A federal judge has delivered a much-needed victory for the free market by ruling that Meta does not hold an illegal monopoly in the social media space. U.S. District Judge James Boasberg found that the Federal Trade Commission failed to prove that Meta currently wields monopoly power that would justify ripping apart modern American tech companies.
The FTC’s dramatic bid to force Meta to divest Instagram and WhatsApp was never just about competition — it was about rewriting the rules for how successful companies are allowed to compete and grow. What the court made clear is that past dominance is not a blank check to punish a company today, and the agency failed to show the kind of present monopoly power required under the law.
Judge Boasberg also underscored the obvious: the digital attention market has changed, and apps like TikTok and YouTube are major competitors that the FTC tried to ignore in its narrow market definition. The judge’s recognition that social media and short-form video have fused into a single competitive landscape exposed the weakness of the agency’s argument.
Conservatives should celebrate this result because it reasserts a basic principle: success earned in the marketplace should not be punished by regulators playing politics. If government can simply decide to tear companies apart whenever a political faction dislikes their size, innovation will wither and American technological leadership will slip to nations that actually respect entrepreneurs.
Make no mistake, the FTC’s posturing was political theater dressed as consumer protection, and the agency’s public disappointment shows how badly it wanted a landmark win. The ruling hands regulators and their allies a clear rebuke and should deter future overreach that sacrifices consumers and innovation on the altar of ideology.
This decision is also a win for consumers who benefit from the improvements and innovations that come from competition and scale — better products, more features, and services that millions rely on every day. The court’s focus on consumer welfare and the evolving nature of digital platforms is a reminder that antitrust law exists to protect markets, not to punish success.
Now Congress and the public should take note: if we want an economy that creates jobs, funds innovation, and defends free speech, we must resist the temptation to weaponize antitrust to achieve political ends. Today’s ruling is a validation of those values, and a prompt for lawmakers to prioritize sound policy over spectacle.
