Unclick

Unclick is a term, increasingly applied in the context of computing, in which a computer user un-chooses or de-selects a specific preference,[1][2] typically by moving a cursor over a selection, and pressing the left mouse button. As a result, the check mark image or dark circle inside a Checkbox or a Radio button is removed.[3] While in January 2012 the term unclick is generally not formally defined in dictionaries,[4][5] the term has been used in popular parlance in countries such as the United States,[6] Britain,[7] and Canada.[8]

A menu box from an Internet screen showing which preferences are in effect. By using a mouse or graphical pointer, a user can move a cursor over selected terms, and un-check or unclick specific choices, if the software permits it.
A Checkbox is a graphical user interface element in which a computer user can make multiple selections from an array of options.
If a computer user unclicks a radio button, then no options are selected. In this example, the item "Cat" is selected.

Background

As the Internet becomes an increasingly popular medium for marketers, vendors and marketers often presume that a user will prefer certain choices,[6][9] such as receiving emails in the future, having specific computer settings, or preferring that specific programs will be operational when a computer is turned on. As a result, it is sometimes necessary for a user to unclick these choices[10] to avoid exposure to unwanted advertising,[11] or to avoid a situation in which a different website is chosen for one's home page.[7] In Internet marketing, unclicking is often required for a user to avoid being billed automatically for unnecessary services, sometimes part of a deceptive business practice termed negative option billing. A user's Facebook privacy settings have often been chosen in advance by Facebook Inc., which presumes that a user would like particular settings, and to un-choose these options, a user may need to unclick or opt-out of the Facebook-determined choices by finding the right menus.[12] According to behavioral economics, computer and Internet users have a general tendency to go along with a default setting.

Further information: Opt-out

Other contexts

The term unclick has also been used in other contexts, such as when there is a latching or locking mechanism, such as a lock on a briefcase,[13] or seat belts in a car[8][14] or airplane,[15] or door lock,[16] or other mechanisms which typically make a "clicking" sound. In these contexts, unclicking means to open the latch or seat belt. It has also been used in the context of guns, in which a safety catch is "unclicked",[17] or flooring materials in which pieces are interlocked,[18] The term has been used to describe the act of answering a cell phone by pressing on a button when it is ringing.[19]

References
  1. James Coates (August 27, 2001). "Quickly make icons as pretty as a picture". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2012-01-07.
  2. TARA SIEGEL BERNARD (September 1, 2011). "MarketRiders Tweaks Its Investment Mix". The New York Times. Retrieved 2012-01-04.
  3. Chris Wilson and Chadwick Matlin (March 5, 2009). "Predicting Watchmen's Box Office Returns". Slate Magazine. Retrieved 2012-01-04.
  4. "unclick". Merriam-Webster Dictionary. 2012-01-07. Retrieved 2012-01-07.
  5. "unclick". The Free Dictionary. 2012-01-07. Retrieved 2012-01-07.
  6. JASON FRY (March 31, 2008). "Thoughts on Kids and the Net: Readers Offer Thoughts on When Children Should Be Introduced to the Digital World". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 2012-01-07.
  7. Rob Freeman (25 September 2007). "Click Tips: Making XP look like Vista". BBC News. Retrieved 2012-01-07.
  8. The Gazette (Montreal) (April 19, 2006). "FJ Cruiser makes landfall". Canada.com. Retrieved 2012-01-07.
  9. Lee Dembart (August 26, 2002). "the end user / A voice for the consumer : You, on radio". The New York Times. Retrieved 2012-01-07.
  10. North American Precis Syndicate NJ.com (January 4, 2010). "Steering Clear Of Deceptive Online Marketing". nj.com. Retrieved 2012-01-04.
  11. Brian Bergstein, AP Technology Editor (October 1, 2008). "How can I make my computer run faster, for free?". USA Today. Retrieved 2012-01-04.
  12. Shannon Montgomery, of The Canadian Press (July 2, 2010). "Lawsuit says Facebook changes sold as making info secure had opposite effect". The Star. Retrieved 2012-01-04.
  13. John Miller (December 1998). "Life Is Adventure: Postcards from Rio de Janeiro". Brazzil. Retrieved 2012-01-07.
  14. Cynthia Lee (October 14, 2011). "New Jersey car seat laws: Which seat is best for your child?". The Star-Ledger. Retrieved 2012-01-07.
  15. Ron Alexander (December 18, 1991). "Metropolitan Diary". The New York Times. Retrieved 2012-01-07.
  16. Burnaby Now (April 28, 2009). "If the shoe fits: Christmas came early for the trio of Sandra McLellan, Sarah Dadey and Jason McLellan". canada.com. Retrieved 2012-01-07.
  17. Arundhati Roy (26 March 2010). "Gandhi, but with guns: Part Five". The Guardian. Retrieved 2012-01-07.
  18. Adele Evans (October 14, 2001). "It's underfoot, but important: Floor: An upgrade can make a home distinctive, but choosing the right material and pattern doesn't come easy". Baltimore Sun. Retrieved 2012-01-07.
  19. Lynn Hirschberg (May 14, 2000). "The Samaha Formula for Hollywood Success". The New York Times. Retrieved 2012-01-07.
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