I think the comparisons of the invention of the Gutenberg printing press and the internet are highly relevant. Prior to Gutenberg the church was able to control the flow of religious information, and thus society at the time, via limited access to religious texts. Once the printing press came about they lost control of the flow of information and people began to interpret things their own ways resulting in a complete upheaval in society. We can see the same effects with the internet and the nation state. For example in the past people would watch the same TV channels/read the same newspapers etc. which allowed far greater control of the flow of information, resulting in a narrower spectrum of opinions. The internet has blown the control of information apart. This hasn't been without consequences; as this article discusses. It also discusses Blockchain as a potential solution to this, which I think has lots of parallels to what we are trying to achieve here at Relevant. "Gutenberg and the reformation led to the Wars of religion, of which the Thirty Years' War was one (1618-1648). Today we can often read about a culture war, not a very bloody war, but still a serious conflict it would seem"