(03) The Algorithm's Rule: Do We Shoot for Ourselves or for Instagram?

We used to choose what to photograph. Now, the algorithm chooses for us.
Travel destinations aren’t picked for their culture or beauty, but for their potential to go viral. A hike in nature? Only if there’s a "perfect view" at the end. A city trip? Only if the streets offer the right background for a trendy post.
We all know the scene: a crowd gathered at the Instagram spot—some after hours of hiking, others ten meters from the bus stop. But instead of taking in the view, breathing the air, feeling the place... the first instinct is to whip out the phone. Because now, photography isn’t about preserving a moment—it’s about proving we were there.
Photography no longer helps us see. It traps us in a loop of trends, hashtags, and déjà-vu compositions.