Why is this the answer?

The answer is secret because this clever riddle describes something special and private that you just cannot keep to yourself. It is a puzzle that uses words to trick your mind into thinking about something you own, when really, it is a piece of information. Let us look at the first clue: "If you have it, you want to share it." Think about when a friend tells you a big secret, like a surprise party they are planning, or a funny thing that happened on their vacation. That information is exciting, and when you have a fun piece of news, it makes you feel important. You often get a strong, tickly feeling that makes you want to tell someone else right away. Secrets are like a special gift of knowledge, and you feel a lot of pressure to let that information out. It is hard to keep a big secret all bottled up inside you, especially if you love to talk to your friends. This first part of the riddle perfectly captures that feeling of wanting to share exciting information. Now, let us look at the second part of the riddle, which is the trickiest part: "If you share it, you do not have it." This does not mean the information disappears completely. Instead, when you share a secret, it is no longer just yours. It stops being a *secret* for *you* alone because now someone else knows it, too. When only you know the information, it feels private and precious. The moment you tell a second person, the control you have over that secret is released. It becomes a shared thing, and its special quality of being known only to you is completely gone. You cannot really "take back" a piece of information once it has been given away. That is why the riddle says you do not have it anymore. You traded the private, special feeling of holding it alone for the relief of telling someone you trust, making the answer a secret.