[Foomandoonian]

[Wondering aloud] Would a better approach be to activate the sharing icons on mouseover? Sure, users would do this accidentally, but those concerned about privacy could learn to avoid those areas of blogs. Those who don't care (or pay attention) would get a one-click experience.

Touch users woud presumably still have to tap twice.

[thomasz]

If I remember correctly they went the way they did to alleviate the threat of trademark litigation.