Communication Technology and Hutterite Culture : A Theoretical Analysis of ICT Uses and Practices Within the Hutterite Community

How do the Hutterites of North America integrate communications technology into their communal culture? Prior to recent inflow of new media, the Hutterite community strictly prohibited traditional media such as radio and television. Communications technology such as telephones, fax machines and cellular phones were restricted to the minister and financial secretary, other members had free albeit limited access. Today, most members have access to a home phone and/or web capable device. Hutterite profiles appearing ubiquitously on social networking platforms are a clear sign of changes taking place within the community. Laptops, Smartphones and Internet access have a meaningful and useful place in the manufacturing and agrarian workplace of the Hutterite community, but do the effects of such modernization erode the communal culture? Officially, positions vary. Uses of new media technologies within the community remain largely in the realm of speculation. This book is meant to provide some answers.