It seems like every time you think the internet can’t get any dumber, someone finds a way to prove you wrong. This time? Kids, some as young as middle school are intentionally shorting out their laptops, all thanks to a reckless new trend making the rounds on TikTok.
That’s right. Videos are circulating showing teens jamming small metal objects, like paperclips or charger pins, into their laptop ports, causing sparks, smoke, and in many cases, completely frying the machine. Some are doing it for the so-called thrill. Others? Just to try and scam their school or parents into replacing the damaged device.
Not only is this dangerous, but let’s be clear: it’s flat-out stupid. We’re talking about electrical fires, potential injuries, and in certain cases, criminal charges for destruction of property or fraud. And for what? A few likes and laughs online?
This isn’t just a “kids will be kids” situation. It’s a sharp reminder of how fast bad ideas spread and how quickly a dumb stunt can turn into a nightmare. Parents, teachers, and administrators need to stay alert, because while it might start as “just a trend,” it can end in thousands of dollars in damage, serious injury, or worse.
We’re watching it unfold right now, and the whispers are everywhere: students caught red-handed, schools tightening their rules, and tech departments scrambling to figure out why another device bit the dust.
Our advice? Talk to your kids. Make sure they understand that not everything they see online is worth imitating, no matter how viral it gets.
Stay sharp out there, Falmouth. Some trends just aren’t worth the spark.