*By Madison Alworth*
People around the world will spend more time online than watching television next year as global internet usage climbs in countries where smartphones have become more readily available than TV, according to new data from Zenith [cited by Recode](https://www.recode.net/2018/6/8/17441288/internet-time-spent-tv-zenith-data-media).
Advertisers' dollars are set to follow: Globally, they're expected to spend $60 billion more on Internet ads in 2019 than TV advertising.
However in the United States, the largest media consumption market in the world, television is still king.
"Americans still spend far more time watching television than on the internet," said Sara Fischer, a media reporter for Axios. Though many Americans seem to spend more time on their phones, Fischer said, is not necessarily engaged time.
"If you were to take a look at it from a minute-by-minute basis, more often than not, people spend more media consumption time on television than they do with some of their mobile properties," Fischer said in an interview with Cheddar. "Even though they might check them up to 100 times a day, it's not like they're sitting there, spending a ton of time."
For full interview, [click here](https://cheddar.com/videos/internet-consumption-outpacing-television).
A Senate bill unveiled on Wednesday looks to tackleonline safety for children by regulating Big Tech and social media platforms to deter users from content that can harm their mental health. Irene Ly, a policy counsel for the age-based ratings and review organization Common Sense Media, joined Cheddar News to break down the potential of the Kids Online Safety Act. "We can't be imposing such a big burden on parents to be doing it all on theirselves," Ly said. "I think you also have to keep in mind that parents often didn't grow up with social media, so they don't understand what it's like to be addicted to social media or really understand how they work."
While many still remain skeptical about the metaverse, big tech firms and even one big bank are ready to expand their virtual worlds. Facebook parent company has pivoted so hard it will now call its employees 'Metamates,' and even JPMorgan Chase has created its own digital lounge on one virtual platform. While the sector remains young, there seems to be significant investment opportunity, especially with companies like Nvidia. Adam Johnson, a portfolio strategist at Adviser Investments, joins Closing Bell to discuss which companies could win in this space, consumer appetite, and more.
Marc Blinder, Co-Founder and CEO of Aikon, joins Cheddar News' Closing Bell, where he discusses how his company is helping businesses use blockchain applications without needing to learn the intricacies of the new technology.
Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) have introduced a new bill to afford greater protection to minors on social media. The genesis of the Kids Online Safety Act came from a Facebook whistleblower case exposing the harm apps can have on the mental health of young girls.
Ride share competitors Uber and Lyft both posted their fourth quarter earnings days apart from each other. Both companies have been trying to get back on their feet after taking some pandemic-related hits, but the Omicron variant had other ideas as the year came to a close, with each company taking a hit in ridership in December. Lance Ippolito, head trader at The Future of Wealth explains how Uber and Lyft measured up this earnings period and why Uber may still have an edge over the competition.
