> As a cynic, I was expecting that Republicans might want more regulation here (in contravention of their general desire for less regulation) because it would be in their own interests.

That's the thing you don't understand about Republicans. They don't consider regulation on social media platforms as something in their interest.

The model, "IF you don't like something, then advocate making a law against it" is not how conservatives see the world. However, this is the model which liberals subscribe to. There is nothing which liberals don't like, which they don't advocate making a law against it.

Before you point out other things, their model is "Govt should only act against things which are objectively morally wrong, like violation of private property rights".

Keep in mind, they opposed Gay marriage for as long as they could, but at this point, 'reverting gay marriage' is a dying (or never was a) cause among conservatives, reverting 'Roe v Wade' is.