The Amish selectively choose what's allowed, then add on all sorts of arbitrary stuff. Own a computer? OK, but someone else runs it and it must be for business. Phones? Sure, but 100 yards from the house. Tractors? OK, but no rubber wheels.
Sure, the rationale is to make sure none of those things "pollute" their lives or allow them to mingle with the outside world. It's still quite cultish though and it's sad so many kids are forced to deal with it.
