Each community decides among themselves which technologies will help them strengthen their community rather than weaken it and thus be allowed to use.

That's how you end up with things like horse-drawn carriages with electric lighting or even Amish that use computers for work.

They can use tech in some circumstances, and different Amish communities will have different standards[1]. Some of them may own cars and may even use smartphones or computers, in some specific cases and with limitations (e.g. they would install content blockers on their phones)[2]

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amish#Use_of_technology_by_dif...

[2] smartphones are discussed in episode 4 of this web series, and "Amish drivers" in episode 3 https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEyPgwIPkHo7lOk-72-tX...

The rules are different in different areas and with different groups. I grew up in an area with lots of Amish neighbors and they generally speaking did not use technology but there was at least one house I remember having a phone and even one that had a windmill to generate electricity though I don't know what for.

Amish men, at least in my area, would also occasionally go to bars, the whole family went to stores, etc. where they would be able to use technology like phones.

And I'm fairly certain the Amish around me in Western Pennsylvania/eastern Ohio were some of the stricter ones whereas, I've heard, communities in Minnesota for example are less strict and will even have things like TVs in their house.

I used to think this too and asked some whom I met while traveling. Their response was that they aren't absolutists about this: the rule itself isn't the cornerstone of their belief system. Some compromises are not controversial, say to enable trade with neighbors.

I realized afterwards that their decision tree could be compressed to two conditions: keeping everyone in the community really busy, and not interfering with their social and moral norms. These two aren't entirely unrelated but are different enough to state separately. I believe as long as these two conditions are met they will not see technological tools as harmful.

It’s more that they take a cautious approach to any new technology, making sure to understand what its effects might be on their society before deciding to what extent to allow it.

This article “Amish Hackers” is a good look at their approach [1].

That article has been on HN several times over the last decade. Here is the most recent discussion [2].

[1] https://kk.org/thetechnium/amish-hackers-a/

[2] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=29905288

I think a lot of them use phones, electricity, and maybe even computers for their businesses, while avoiding them for personal/home use. They also make a distinction sometimes between using and owning. There are things they do not own but will still use for specific reasons that have been determined by the community to be valid.