Athletes Can't Leave the Arena Anymore. It Follows Them Home

Shane Hewitt and The Nightshift · Apr 10, 2026 · 10m

Athlete social media pressure has changed what it means to be a professional. It used to stop at the rink doors. Now there are dedicated accounts tracking every NHL player's follows and likes in real time, and Nazem Kadri's liked posts are being reported on. The game never ends.

Brenley Shapiro has worked with athletes long enough to know the difference between pressure that sharpens performance and pressure that corrodes it. Criticism of a slump is one thing. Being told to spend less time following people on Instagram is something else. That second kind hits identity and belonging and…