State fire officials warn about social media trend involving laptop charging ports

State fire administrators issued a warning about a social media trend that is sparking concern The trend suggests inserting a paper clip pencil lead or other conductive object into a laptop computer s charging port This can cause a short circuit that increases the device s temperature and can cause smoke sparks or a fire One such case took place at a school in upstate New York last week A number of broadcasted incidents in Massachusetts have been interrupted by teachers who spotted the abuse of school-issued laptops One apprentice was disclosed to be injured The trend appears to have started on TikTok