This research examines the profound impact of Instagram on architectural photography in the 21st century. Once a professional and editorial endeavor, architectural photography has been transformed by social media into a participatory and highly aestheticized activity. Instagram's algorithm-driven visuals, hashtag culture, and global reach have changed how architecture is captured, consumed, and even designed. This paper explores the visual aesthetics promoted by Instagram, the algorithmic pressures on photographers and designers, and the ethical and cultural consequences of a platform-dominated gaze. Through extensive case studies—ranging from Ricardo Bofill’s Muralla Roja and Thomas Heatherwick’s Vessel to India’s Rani ki Vav and Studio Mumbai’s handcrafted works—the study explores both the creative opportunities and serious challenges introduced by this digital revolution. It argues that while Instagram has broadened the audience for architecture, it has also commodified space and design into fleeting visual content, often at the cost of cultural depth and spatial integrity.