The little-known fetish that has people tickled pink in the bedroom

Most people either burst into fits of laughter or squirm with discomfort when tickled — for some though, the automatic response is arousal.

While tickling fetishes – also known as knismolagnia, knismophilia, or titillagnia – aren’t exactly mainstream, they’re not as rare as you might assume.

The 2016 release of critically-acclaimed documentary, Tickled, sparked a wave of interest online, and an x-rated Reddit page dedicated to the practice now boasts over 51,000 weekly visitors, while almost 5.5 million messages have been posted on the Tickling Media Forum.

Loosely related to the increasingly popular ‘armpit licking’ kink, this paraphilia involves tickling, being tickled, or watching others be tickled.

Gemma Nice, certified sex and relationship coach from Erobella tells Metro: ‘The arousal often comes from the power dynamic, where the dominant partner controls the tickling. This can create sensory overload, which increases excitement and heightens arousal for both people.’

In some cases, the stimulation of highly sensitive nerve endings is enough to get people off, as evidenced by a 2024 study of 719 tickling fetishists, where 88% said they derive sexual pleasure from tickling without any other form of sexual contact, while 25% experience orgasms exclusively through tickling.’

But it may also overlap with BDSM, as a dominant partner (the tickler) and a submissive (the ticklee) channel the control aspect for ‘a stronger physical and psychological experience.’

Redditor The_Nightgaunt called it ‘the perfect fetish’, adding: ‘The whole “I’m gonna get you and there’s nothing you can do about it” dynamic elicits something of a raw and primal response from the lee and the ler, but it’s also sort of somewhat caring and innocent at the same time.

‘It’s so versatile and there’s so many aspects of tickling — both physical and psychological — that make it appealing on different levels, both sexually and intimately. It’s just a really awesome kink.’

Another fan, who held an AMA on their taste for tickling, said: ‘The idea of having absolutely no control over what’s going to happen coupled with the fact that my partner loves putting me through an anguish (yet without it being painful or otherwise unpleasant) is very wonderful to me.’ 

‘That is so sexy’

Liz, a niche fetish content creator on LoyalFans says tickling is ‘extremely popular’ on the platform, and clips of her being tickled are among her bestsellers.

She only realised it was a ‘thing’ when a company reached out to her with a list of video requests.

‘I saw tickling and my brain tingled like, “Ding! That’s hot as heck”,’ she tells Metro. ‘I didn’t know other people were into it on a sexual level but when you think about it, it makes so much sense.’

From there, Liz leaned into her natural ticklishness, and has gone on to be nominated for a best ticklee award in various fetish forums.

Clients ‘pay a premium’ for tailor-made videos where she acts out specific scenarios, wears certain clothes and focuses on different body parts.

The creator explains: ‘For instance, last week I made a custom tickling video where the theme was “I am trying to sleep in this beautiful satin night gown but my boyfriend wants to keep me awake so he keeps tickling me!” 

‘I’ve done others where it’s almost a game show challenge set up, testing how long I can let someone tickle my feet before I pull away and beg for mercy. I really enjoy this, and it’s so fun because it’s kind of pure in a way —plus, you know its a good workout too!’ 

In Liz’s experience, ‘most people with a tickle fetish are very kind, and respectful, often shy men’.

‘It’s typically men who are complete gentlemen, the kind who open all the doors for you,’ she adds. ‘But they have this secret playful side to them and I think that is so sexy.’ 

The science of tickling

Ticklishness is actually an evolutionary reflex, designed to make us hyper-aware of sensitive spots on the body and protect them from predators.

In terms of the science, being tickled stimulates activity in a small but crucial area of the brain called the hypothalamus, which regulates the nervous and endocrine systems, and activates what’s known as the fight-or-flight response.

According to researchers, it can also engage nerve endings typically associated with pain, explaining why some people find tickling uncomfortable rather than pleasurable.

Family medicine physician Dr Neha Vyas tells Cleveland Clinic: ‘Your hypothalamus controls that adrenaline rush you get when something abrupt, exciting or challenging happens to you, so it’s geared toward protecting you.’

In terms of where tickling fetishes come from, Gemma says they can potentially ‘stem from childhood experiences of tickling games, which later evolve into a form of adult flirting and intimacy.’

The intimacy and vulnerability of the act could play a part too, along with the purely physiological element, as some people enjoy the feeling of being tickled more intensely.

How to introduce tickling into your sex life

As ever, open and honest conversation is the best way to introduce a new fetish to a partner, but Gemma recommends first asking yourself ‘why you enjoy tickling and whether you find the sensations appealing even when you try them on your own.’

Once you’ve worked out what tickles your pickle, you can broach the topic with your partner, letting them know it’s something you’d like to try together ‘only if they feel comfortable.’

‘If you do decide to explore it, start slowly rather than jumping straight in,’ Gemma continues. ‘You might begin with something very gentle, like running a feather lightly across the skin, and see how your partner feels about offering that sensation.’

There are some safety considerations to keep in mind too, with Gemma explaining: ‘Ongoing consent is essential throughout this type of play. A safe word should always be in place in case either person needs to stop, and both partners need to practise good listening skills.

‘It’s also important to be mindful of physical limits; if someone has an injury or a sensitive area, this should be discussed beforehand and approached with caution.’

Communicate about how you’re feeling before, during and afterwards, in order to make sure you’re both on the same page in regards to what works and what needs to be adjusted.

Above all though, Gemma notes: ‘Remember that this fetish is rooted in playfulness, so maintaining a sense of fun can help the experience feel safe and enjoyable for both partners.’

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