MoneySuperMarket has published research showing that 41% of UK business decision-makers use social media for business advice, with tax-related topics the most common area of interest.

The survey of 390 UK business decision-makers found that 31% had used social media for guidance on self-assessment or tax returns, making it the most searched topic. Business expenses that can be claimed ranked second at 24%, followed by side hustles or additional income at 21%, VAT rules or thresholds at 20%, how much tax to set aside at 15%, and business banking or cash flow at 14%.

Some business owners are also acting on advice without checking it elsewhere. While 44% said they verify information from social media with an accountant or official source, MoneySuperMarket estimated that 169,200 business owners follow social media advice without verifying it with other sources.

This has led to problems for some respondents. Nearly one in 10 decision-makers, or 8%, said they had acted on business advice from social media that they later discovered was incorrect.

Among those who said they had followed inaccurate guidance, 8% reported not setting aside enough money for tax, while 7% said they had paid more tax than expected.

Usage patterns

Use of social media for operational advice differed sharply by business size. Medium-sized businesses with 50 to 249 employees were the most frequent users, with 25% saying they very or quite often use social media to help run their business.

That compared with 6% of microbusiness owners with fewer than 10 employees, suggesting larger small and medium-sized employers are more likely than the smallest firms to use social platforms as a regular source of day-to-day business information.

Business age also appeared to influence behaviour. One in 20 decision-makers at companies trading for less than five years said they use social media very often for business advice, while the share fell to 2% among those at businesses operating for more than 35 years.

The findings highlight how far social platforms have become part of the information mix for owners and managers dealing with practical tax and finance questions. They also suggest newer businesses may be more inclined to seek informal or fast-moving online advice than long-established firms.

Alicia Hempsted, Business Insurance Expert at MoneySuperMarket, said: “Social media can be a powerful tool for useful information for business owners, however, it’s essential that decision-makers fact-check the advice with verified sources and professional government guidelines to ensure that it is correct.”

The survey focused on companies with between one and 249 employees, covering a broad range of small and medium-sized businesses across the UK. The results indicate that, for many respondents, social media is not just a marketing channel but also a source of guidance on compliance, tax and financial administration.

The prominence of self-assessment, tax returns and VAT in the responses underlines the pressure on smaller businesses to navigate complex rules with limited time and resources. At the same time, the findings show the risks of relying on unverified posts or videos when decisions can affect tax bills and cash reserves.

For advisers and official bodies, the data may reinforce concerns that business owners are increasingly encountering financial guidance in spaces not designed to check accuracy before publication. For firms, the research points to a gap between the speed and accessibility of social media information and the need for reliable professional or official advice when money is at stake.

Chameleon Technology has launched the IHD7-VWAN for the UK government’s Virtual Wide Area Network initiative. The device is intended for homes that have struggled to connect to smart metering services.

The launch follows the introduction of VWAN, a scheme developed with the Data Communications Company to address connectivity gaps in properties that cannot reliably send or receive traditional smart meter signals.

The new in-home display uses a household’s Wi-Fi connection, with the consumer’s consent, to help pass smart meter data to the Data Communications Company. It creates two Wi-Fi connections: one for a secure tunnel carrying smart meter data to the DCC, and another linking to Chameleon’s cloud systems for product support.

The approach is aimed at so-called black spots, where connectivity problems have left some households unable to use smart metering. Information released alongside the launch said the wider VWAN initiative could support smart metering in up to 350,000 hard-to-connect homes.

That figure underlines a persistent issue in the UK’s smart meter rollout. Geography, building type and local signal conditions have prevented some properties from maintaining the communications link needed for meter data to flow through the national network. VWAN is intended to provide another route by relying on home broadband rather than traditional communications paths.

For Chameleon, the new product extends its existing role in the in-home display market. More than 12 million of its displays are already installed in homes across Great Britain, while its wider customer base reaches more than 20 million people.

The IHD7-VWAN combines several functions in one unit, including consumer access device services, prepayment functionality and the new Virtual Wide Area Network connection. This integrated design is intended to reduce operational complexity for energy suppliers while giving more options to households that have previously been left outside the smart metering system.

Connectivity gap

The challenge addressed by VWAN has been a long-running one for the energy sector. Smart meters rely on communications links to send readings and other information through the Data Communications Company, which acts as the national data network for Britain’s smart meter system. In homes where that connection is weak or unavailable, meters may lose smart functions or may not be installed with full functionality at all.

Using in-home displays as part of the communications route marks a different approach. Rather than depending solely on external signal reach, the VWAN model uses the household’s own Wi-Fi network to bridge the gap. That means consumer consent is part of the process, because the connection uses the home internet service to support meter communications.

Rollout support

Chameleon said it supports the staged rollout of the VWAN programme. The Harrogate-based company also has operations in France and Hong Kong, and focuses on devices and data services linked to energy use in homes and businesses.

Kyle Brown commented on the product launch as the wider initiative begins to take shape. “The Virtual Wide Area Network is a vital development for smart meter connectivity, and the launch of our IHD7-VWAN demonstrates Chameleon’s commitment to supporting this next phase of the rollout. We are continually pushing to help bring the benefits of smart metering to as many homes as possible and feel very proud to be working with the energy industry and the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero to continue helping the industry overcome connectivity challenges. Chameleon is leading the way in enabling a more connected, data-driven home energy ecosystem,” said Brown, Chief Commercial Officer, Chameleon Technology.

The introduction of VWAN adds another layer to efforts to complete smart meter coverage across Britain, particularly in areas where the existing network has proved difficult to extend. The remaining gap, affecting up to 350,000 homes, suggests the issue remains significant for suppliers and policymakers seeking wider smart meter adoption.

Chameleon’s device enters this part of the market with a design tailored to the new framework set by government and the Data Communications Company, linking a familiar household energy display to a new communications function for homes that have remained outside the reach of standard smart meter signals.

Peak traffic on Hyperoptic’s broadband network rose by about 10% during the opening match of this summer’s major international football tournament. Most viewers also expect to watch the tournament from home.

Demand peaked at about 9:15pm during the opening fixture, around 30 minutes later than the usual evening high point. Hyperoptic said its normal peak typically falls between 9pm and 10pm.

Research commissioned by the provider found that 60% of UK adults with home broadband plan to watch the tournament. Among those viewers, 86% expect to watch most matches from home rather than elsewhere.

The findings highlight the strain major live sport can place on household connections when several activities are running at once. During major live sporting events at home, an average of 2.7 internet-connected devices are in use in the household at the same time, according to the survey.

A sizeable minority of viewers said technical problems can spoil the experience. Some 29% of UK adults with home broadband said buffering during a goal, penalty or other key moment would be one of the most frustrating things to happen during a major match, while 11% said they had already missed an important sporting moment because of buffering, lag or connection issues.

The study also suggested that delays in live streams can leave viewers exposed to spoilers before the action appears on screen. Around three in five football viewers said they had found out about a goal or other key sporting moment before seeing it themselves.

Second screens

The survey suggests that watching football at home often involves several screens at once. A third of football viewers said they message friends or family while watching live football, while 29% said they scroll social media during matches.

That second-screen habit can add another source of frustration for viewers whose streams lag behind live play. Fans checking messages or social platforms may learn about decisive moments before the broadcast catches up.

Hyperoptic, which focuses on full-fibre broadband in urban areas, said the opening fixture offered an early sign of how the tournament is affecting evening traffic patterns, with network demand rising as millions of fans watched from home.

Mark Bartlett, Chief Operating Officer at Hyperoptic, commented on the viewing patterns and their effect on home internet use.

“This summer is a big moment for football, and millions of people will be watching, reacting and connecting at the same time. With so many fans planning to watch from home, broadband is a central part of the matchday experience. A delayed stream, frozen picture or spoiler can take fans out of the moment in seconds.

“For households watching live sport, a few simple steps can make a real difference to the viewing experience. Streaming over a reliable Wi-Fi connection, avoiding large downloads during key matches and being mindful of how many devices are using bandwidth at the same time can all help reduce the risk of buffering or delays,” Bartlett said.

The research was based on a survey of 2,000 UK adults with home broadband. Unless otherwise stated, the figures refer to that group, with some results drawn from subgroups including football viewers and people planning to watch the tournament.

Hyperoptic said its network now passes more than 1.9 million homes and that it has more than 400,000 customers across 64 towns and cities in the UK. Its figures suggest that major live sports events can shift both the scale and timing of broadband demand as households stream, message and browse at the same time.

For broadband providers, that pattern matters because the pressure comes not only from viewers watching the same event simultaneously, but also from the cluster of digital activity around it. The survey findings suggest that the modern match experience at home includes streaming, social media use and messaging alongside the live broadcast.

With most tournament viewers planning to stay on the sofa for most matches, the home internet connection has become a bigger part of how audiences experience major football events. Around three in five football viewers said they had found out about a goal or key sporting moment before seeing it on their own screen.