This would be a result of how many people immediately jump to absurd conclusions that something evil absolutely must somehow be at play. It’s bizarre how many otherwise rational and logical humans turn into full blown conspiracy theorists the moment they read “secret society” it’s like their own personal rationality offswitch.
Until we can calm down the mass hysteria surrounding this topic, it will almost certainly remain taboo, and honestly, considering how weird the topics always turn, I’d rather it stay taboo than watch a panicky hysterical mass attack innocent people who just want a bit of privacy. History is full of paranoid mass hysteria instances where the masses go absolutely bonkers and innocent people suffer—for somewhat recent examples, look at the satanic panics or Wenatchee WA where, in their hysteria, they issued 29,726 charges of child abuse... yes, that number is correct, 29,726 charges. A number of people’s lives were ruined as they were publicly dragged through the ordeal, yet not a single charge stuck. Not one.
Mass hysteria is a very real phenomena and these topics of secret societies and the occult are probably better left as taboo, just reference any forum about the subject to see clear examples as to how much of our population are incredibly ill-equipped to discuss them rationally.