Articles related to this topic can be found on occasion on most popular web portals, even in my country. Usually tickling is in the same barrel as other "weird and bizarre sexual fetishes out there", along side fetishes for balloons, farting and bugs. So people do know about it to some extant for sure. As far as comments for above mentioned articles are concerned, tickling is many times overlooked as people more often comment on those other stuff.
And I don't think that all this has almost any influence on us whatsoever. I don't feel like my friends need to know my sexual desires and fantasies anyway. That only concerns me and my special other, and in that case it all comes down to the mindset of the person you're with. Is she open minded, does she actually love or like you and accept you for the weirdo you are.