High schoolers across the country are participating in a worrying new TikTok trend and internet challenge, which involves destroying the Google Chromebooks in their classrooms by putting them through "durability tests," resulting in their annihilation.

Viral videos documenting the destruction are spreading fast on social media platforms. These kids seem to want online fame. However, the means to this fame are at the expense of their teachers, causing quite a commotion that's playing out in school assemblies everywhere.

Many are wondering, where did this Chromebook TikTok trend start? Why are the stunts being called "Chromebook Durability Tests," and what's the dreaded "Chromebook Annihilation Combo?" Let's explain.




Where Did The 'Chromebook Durability Test' TikTok Trend Come From?

As far as we know, the genesis of this trend is one video, which was posted back in March. It showed someone out of frame throwing a Google Chromebook against a school bathroom wall. The video showed each smash until the laptop was in pieces.

The original video has seemingly been deleted, but Barstool Sports was one of the first accounts to repost it in March. They credited it to a TikToker named @chapstick_1, who, as of writing, has no videos on their account.

The video's text overlay joked that the destruction was a "Chromebook durability test," which made it seem like the demolition was helpful.

barstoolsports Not the Chromebook 💀 @Barstool Gametime (via:chapstick61 ♬ EHHHHHHH EH EH EH – ninga.

What Is The 'Chromebook Annihilation Combo?'

Heading into March, more TikTokers shared "durability test" videos of their own. At the same time, others decided to manipulate and dismantle their classroom's Chromebooks with a more insidious, code-based method. It became known as the "Chromebook Annihilation Combo."

One TikToker named @prodbydamienn demonstrates it quite clearly. It requires a few computer commands to adjust the zoom, dictation and rotation of the screen. The trick renders the laptop hilariously useless for its next user.

@prodbydamienn

im sorry to whoever got the Chromebook I tested this on

♬ nostalgia.mp3 – jan2k1

@luke_billingsley0 Chromebook annhilation code🤣😂🫱#dattebayo #chromebookannhilationcode ♬ jshxwty – vontelaststand

What Is The 'Chromebook Lead Trick?'

Another Chromebook demolition method is being called the "lead trick." Kids are basically sticking their mechanical pencils into the laptop's charging port. This purportedly makes the Chromebook smoke.

There are a few things that are inaccurate with this trick. For one, American pencils aren't made of lead anymore; they're made of graphite.

Secondly, a lot of the kids on TikTok are calling this method the "Chromebook led challenge." The mispelling of "lead" as "led" makes it sound like an "LED trick."

Beacuse so many kids are writing "led trick" on TikTok, it truly makes this whole trend feel like some "0.5 GPA activities."

@conner2ka 0.5 gpa hb tried this on the bus and left on a stretcher 💔💔 #fyp #chromebook #durability #test #trending #foryoupage #Foryou ♬ original sound – ♱

@imnotvery_smart #fyp #viral #fypシ #xyzbca #home ♬ original sound – ￶

What Are Some Other 'Chromebook Durability Test' Memes?

This whole trend feels eerily familiar. Back in 2021, a different hooligan challenge made waves online, infamously known as the Devious Licks Trend. It also involved messing with school property, but instead of destroying it, it was about stealing it.

Chromebook Durability Tests could be seen as a revival, as it's been four years now, and the whole Devious Licks high school class is almost fully recycled. Perhaps those freshmen who are seniors now are nostalgic for that old tomfoolery.

Regardless, this Chromebook challenge is stirring up controversy, which is being levied by worried parents, frustrated teachers and even students themselves. One video skit by TikToker @nataloclesin portrays the average Chromebook bully as a cringe attention-seeker.

Either way, for those who aren't a parent and aren't in school, this phenomenon is fascinating to watch. And to be fair, the average Baby Boomer's story about their high school pranks are far more outlandish than whatever's going on here.

For now, enjoy some of these viral memes and moments of the trend so far.

https://www.tiktok.com/embed/v2/7479434392943758638

https://www.tiktok.com/embed/v2/7497357909358054702

https://www.tiktok.com/embed/v2/7501009486040059166

https://www.tiktok.com/embed/v2/7500990797039422751

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For the full history of Chromebook Durability Tests and the Chromebook Annihilation Trend, be sure to check out Know Your Meme's entry for even more information.