CHILDREN given 4G dongles to access online learning, will not be able to download and listen to rapper Eminem or 1980s rock giants, Guns N’ Roses.

Both artistes are named on a banned list of websites and music for the dongles that have been issued to children that are from digitally disadvantaged backgrounds.

The dongles have been adjusted to protect children from online pornography, gambling sites, and to keep them away from voting in television programmes or buying lottery tickets.

And that ban also includes measures to prevent them downloading music – with Eminem and Guns N' Roses named among the acts they should be avoiding in a report to councillors.

County Times:

At the Learning and Skills scrutiny meeting on Tuesday, May 26, Councillor Bryn Davies (Plaid Cymru – Llanwddyn) described a blanket ban as “using a sledgehammer to crack a nut”.

Cllr Davies, said: “They are culturally excluded as well, it concerns me that we are stopping them getting to Apple Music and Spotify where 99 per cent of the music is generally quite innocent stuff.

“It’s using  a sledge hammer to crack a nut.”

Head of digital, Diane Reynolds said: “The agreement between Welsh Government and digital/mobile providers is to stop downloads as much as possible from major sites such as Apple music.

“They took the stance that they were providing access for digital learning

“If you were a parent at home you would set up your parental controls.

“We’re giving a dongle that’s giving broadband access we need to make sure that parental controls are on there before they are handed over.”

But, Sennybridge Primary School governor and independent member, Graham Robson, pointed out that children were being encouraged to visit pages on social media for educational purposes.

Mr Robson, said: “It a question on safeguarding, can the children access social media?

Ms Reynolds, answered: “As far as I’m aware it doesn’t exclude those sites

“In some cases secondary school pupils might need access.”

Education portfolio holder, Councillor Phyl Davies (Conservative – Blaen Hafren) said: “Music sites such as Spotify are subscription, they are not cheap.

“It is a data hungry exercise downloading files but looking at Facebook feeds is not so.”

Mr Robson believed this increased the risk of cyber bullying and schools would need to be aware of the issue in the new age of digital learning.