Influencer Ari Kytsya speaks to 1,200 students at University of Washington amid online debate

Kytsya’s lecture at the University of Washington drew mixed reactions online over academic standards

Influencer Ari Kytsya addressed around 1,200 students at the University of Washington after being invited to speak during a Psych 201 lecture on human sexuality.

Students described the hall as filled with murmurs of academics as the 24-year-old entered, with the appearance intended to support a lesson unit led by Dr Nicole.

Kytsya, known across TikTok, Instagram and adult content platforms, spoke about digital labour, sexual economics and the construction of an online persona, topics that many in the audience considered relevant to understanding the relationship between sex, media and individual agency.

Kytsya has built a following of 2.6 million on Instagram and five million on TikTok, presenting an online persona shaped by comedy, lip-syncing, stylised visuals and openness about cosmetic surgery.

Her talk on campus was titled Surviving Digital Economies, Performing an Online Persona, Psychological Implications for Sexualised Public Spaces. However, once footage of the lecture was shared by Barstool Sports, the online reaction shifted to broader cultural debates.

OF model Ari Kytsya was invited to the University of Washington to speak to a Psych 201 class of 1,200 students
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— FearBuck (@FearedBuck) November 18, 2025

Some users framed the appearance as symbolic of societal decline while others questioned whether it was appropriate for an influencer with an OnlyFans presence to address students. Several reactions also focused on concerns about youth culture.

Students who attended the lecture characterised the atmosphere differently, describing it as thoughtful rather than sensational.

Dr Nicole has previously used guest lecturers from varied backgrounds, including therapists and sex educators, and Kytsya’s participation was consistent with that approach.