Alabama set to enforce statewide ban on student cell phones to tackle social media risks, impacting over 700,000 students
Alabama is moving closer to implementing a statewide ban on student cell phone use in public schools, aiming to combat the risks posed by excessive social media and technology use. The legislation, known as the FOCUS Act, was introduced to prohibit students from using wireless communication devices during the school day, starting in the 2026-27 school year. The bill is poised to affect over 700,000 students statewide and will require local school boards to adopt a policy on the matter by July 2026, according to reports from AL.com.
The bill’s co-sponsors, Senator Donnie Chesteen, R-Geneva, and Representative Leigh Hulsey, R-Helena, believe the ban will help focus students on their studies and improve classroom environments. “What we’re trying to do here is to give an opportunity to children to go bell to bell without any devices in front of them,” Chesteen said, as reported by AL.com. “It will allow teachers to teach without having to police the classroom for students using cell phones.”
Details of the cell phone ban and exceptions
The bill, which passed committee meetings on February 26, 2025, prohibits the use of cell phones, tablets, laptops, and other portable communication devices during school hours. Starting in the 2026-27 academic year, devices will need to be turned off and stored in lockers, backpacks, or cars. However, there are exceptions for students with disabilities, health needs, or those using devices for educational purposes with prior permission. Students may also use their devices in emergencies, as detailed in the legislation.
The bill’s enforcement is backed by a penalty clause: schools that fail to adopt the policy by July 2026 could lose up to 30% of their “common purchase” funding, which is designated for classroom expenses. The proposed changes come in response to growing concerns over the impact of social media on students’ mental health and learning abilities, as highlighted by the Alabama Department of Education.
Impact of cell phone restrictions on student outcomes
Schools across Alabama are already seeing positive results from restrictions on cell phone use. Pike Road Junior High Principal Christy Wright shared with lawmakers that the school had experienced significant improvements in discipline and student attentiveness after implementing Yondr pouches to lock away students’ phones. “Even though we had those incidents still, our teachers noted a great difference in our learning environments,” Wright said, as quoted by AL.com.
The ban comes amid growing concerns about student mental health, with recent studies showing a rise in anxiety, depression, and attention issues linked to social media use. State officials, including Alabama Department of Human Resources Commissioner Nancy Boswell, have expressed strong support for the legislation, emphasizing its potential to improve students’ mental well-being by fostering more peer interaction and reducing distractions.
A broader focus on social media safety
Along with the cell phone ban, the legislation also mandates schools to adopt an internet safety policy by July 2026. This policy will protect students from online threats, limit access to inappropriate content, and ensure social media use is restricted on school-issued devices. Furthermore, the Alabama Department of Education is set to introduce a social media safety course aimed at educating students on the risks of online interactions, including identifying cyberbullying and understanding its impact on mental health.
As the FOCUS Act moves through the legislative process, experts caution that while the intent behind the ban is clear, its enforcement may face challenges. Ken Trump, a school safety expert, noted that “the genie is out of the bottle,” referring to the difficulty of regulating cell phone use in an era where technology has fundamentally reshaped education, as reported by AL.com.
