Dear Holliston Community,
We want to inform you of a concerning trend circulating on social media, particularly TikTok. There is a new “challenge” that encourages students to insert foreign objects (pencil lead, paperclips, or pushpins) into the openings on their Chromebooks.
Inserting a metal object into an electronic device can pose a risk of electrical shock or fire. We want to ensure the safety of all our students and prevent any potential harm. In addition, this particular act can also cause significant damage to the Chromebook, which may require extensive repairs and disrupt your student’s learning.
Our district Device Insurance policy does not cover malicious damage, which could result in families paying to replace a damaged Chromebook ($300), as well as disciplinary consequences outlined in school handbooks. We ask for your partnership in addressing this issue.
Please take the time to talk to your student about the potential dangers of this challenge and the importance of using technology responsibly. We encourage you to reinforce the following:
● It is important to make responsible choices online and not participate in harmful trends.
● Tampering with Chromebooks can lead to damage and fire hazards.
● Student and family handbooks have disciplinary consequences for damaging school equipment.
Thank you for your cooperation in keeping our students safe and ensuring that technology remains a valuable learning tool. Please contact me or your student’s principal with any questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Director of Technology & Digital Learning
508-893-6077
Article: Dangerous TikTok trend has students forcing paper clips, pushpins into Chromebook devices
