I am sure that this would have been user tested many decades ago when mice had balls and three buttons. They might have even tested opening links on mouse over, which would be a bit too trigger happy.
Users of just the web are not fully computer literate. The interface is super easy compared to actual programs where you need things like menus, right clicks and full hotkey support.
If I think back to how my mother struggled with computers and how her friends were just as useless, I think they would be stumped with having to double click. Arthritis comes along too, so that generation needed all the help they could get. Generally it was only the advent of online shopping that enabled them to persevere with giving things a go.
Double-clicking originated with the Macintosh because Jobs wanted a single-button mouse above all else. We're used to it now, but they had training exercises to teach people to double-click because it's undiscoverable and takes practice.
Users of just the web are not fully computer literate. The interface is super easy compared to actual programs where you need things like menus, right clicks and full hotkey support.
If I think back to how my mother struggled with computers and how her friends were just as useless, I think they would be stumped with having to double click. Arthritis comes along too, so that generation needed all the help they could get. Generally it was only the advent of online shopping that enabled them to persevere with giving things a go.