Unclick

In computer interface design, to unclick is to deselect a specific preference,^[2][3] typically by tapping a selected checkbox with a finger or cursor. As a result, the check mark image or dark circle inside the box is removed.

A web page menu 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 them, 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.

A user generally cannot unclick a radio button; one option must be selected.^[1]

Background

As the Internet becomes an increasingly popular medium for marketers, vendors and marketers often presume that a user will prefer certain choices,^[4][5] 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^[6] to avoid exposure to unwanted advertising,^[7] or to avoid a situation in which a different website is chosen for one's home page.^[8]

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.^[9] 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,^[10] or seat belts in a car^[11][12] or airplane,^[13] or door lock,^[14] 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",^[15] or flooring materials in which pieces are interlocked,^[16] The term has been used to describe the act of answering a cell phone by pressing on a button when it is ringing.^[17]

References

1. Flanagan, David (2002). JavaScript: The Definitive Guide. "O'Reilly Media, Inc.". p. 638. ISBN 978-0-596-00048-6.
2. James Coates (August 27, 2001). "Quickly make icons as pretty as a picture". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2012-01-07.
3. TARA SIEGEL BERNARD (September 1, 2011). "MarketRiders Tweaks Its Investment Mix". The New York Times. Retrieved 2012-01-04.
4. 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.
5. Lee Dembart (August 26, 2002). "the end user / A voice for the consumer : You, on radio". The New York Times. Retrieved 2012-01-07.
6. North American Precis Syndicate NJ.com (January 4, 2010). "Steering Clear Of Deceptive Online Marketing". nj.com. Retrieved 2012-01-04.
7. Brian Bergstein, AP Technology Editor (October 1, 2008). "How can I make my computer run faster, for free?". USA Today. Retrieved 2012-01-04. {{cite news}}: |author= has generic name (help)
8. Rob Freeman (25 September 2007). "Click Tips: Making XP look like Vista". BBC News. Retrieved 2012-01-07.
9. 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.
10. John Miller (December 1998). "Life Is Adventure: Postcards from Rio de Janeiro". Brazzil. Retrieved 2012-01-07.
11. The Gazette (Montreal) (April 19, 2006). "FJ Cruiser makes landfall". Canada.com. Retrieved 2012-01-07.
12. Cynthia Lee (October 14, 2011). "New Jersey car seat laws: Which seat is best for your child?". The Star-Ledger. Retrieved 2012-01-07.
13. Ron Alexander (December 18, 1991). "Metropolitan Diary". The New York Times. Retrieved 2012-01-07.
14. 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.
15. Arundhati Roy (26 March 2010). "Gandhi, but with guns: Part Five". The Guardian. Retrieved 2012-01-07.
16. 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.
17. Lynn Hirschberg (May 14, 2000). "The Samaha Formula for Hollywood Success". The New York Times. Retrieved 2012-01-07.