Common reasons include:

• privacy and security: EXIF can reveal location, device details, dates, and other information the photographer may not want public.
• smaller files / bandwidth: removing metadata can reduce file size a bit, which helps page load speed and saves bandwidth for viewers and hosting services.
• export and platform defaults: some editing workflows export without most metadata by default, and many websites strip or recompress uploads automatically.
• composites and edited images: some shared images are HDR blends, panoramas, focus stacks, or other composites, so a single set of camera settings may be incomplete or misleading.
• limited teaching value: EXIF rarely explains why a photo works. Light, timing, composition, subject, location, weather, and post-processing usually matter far more than shutter speed, aperture, and ISO alone.

So yes, there are practical reasons beyond privacy, but it’s not usually about “hiding secrets.” In many cases, EXIF is removed by workflow or platform behavior, and even when available, it often doesn’t tell the full story behind the image.