• City living often offers an easy commute to work, 24-hour food options, and a never-ending list of things to do — all at a very high cost.
• Urbanites eventually learn to adapt to the sights, sounds, and smells of cities and accept things that would drive those residing in the suburbs crazy — like insane rent prices and garbage everywhere.
• Here are the things that people deal with in the city that those in the suburbs don't understand.

For many people, living in the city means an easy commute to work, around-the-clock food options, and a way of life where nothing is really that far out of reach. But there’s a price to pay for all that goodness, and well, it’s high — both in numerical figures and casual everyday annoyances.

As someone who lives in New York, I’ve adapted to the sights, sounds, and smells of the city. I grew up in the suburbs of New Jersey, so the city in all of its natural glory took some getting used to. There used to be green grass, fresh air, and even stars at night.

City annoyances certainly bother me sometimes, but I’ve accepted that the city life can’t be glamorous 100% of the time. But when out-of-towners come to visit, I’m reminded of those dis pleasures, and they can be difficult to defend.

Here are 10 things city-dwellers deal with that could make suburbanites cringe:

SEE ALSO: New York City is the priciest city to build in the world — and it's not getting any cheaper

1. You spend WHAT on rent?

Personal finance experts often say that you shouldn’t spend more than 30% of what you earn on rent and utilities. According to the United States Census Bureau, the median income in Manhattan is $75,513. That means someone earning that much shouldn't spend more than about $1,880 on rent.

But renting a good apartment for less than $2,000 in Manhattan is a proverbial unicorn. That’s why New Yorkers have roommates way past college while many suburbanites can afford to live by themselves if they choose.

2. Garbage is the perfume of the city

When my husband first moved to New York from Chicago, he catalogued every time he saw a pile of trash bags on the street with a photo as a joke. While the photos have dwindled, the garbage is most definitely still there.

But in the suburbs? People store it in their garages or in cans until it gets picked up, like civilized humans.

3. We don’t melt in the rain

We walk everywhere, even in the rain. If there’s even one raindrop, hailing a cab or getting an Uber or Lyft is virtually impossible. We’ve also learned not to stand at the corner waiting for the light, because you don’t want to get splashed by a passing car.

The luxury of having your own vehicle and barely spending a moment outside in the rain is a novelty for those not in the city.

• Dating apps are increasingly connecting people who live or work close by, have the same commute, or went to college together.
• Sometimes dating apps can speed up a relationship that might have unfolded, albeit platonically, in real life.
• Most dating app users opt to see potential matches who live within a few miles of them, so they're bound to run into neighbors.

Paige Monborne was playing around on Bumble when a message popped up from a match.

"I don't mean to be creepy," the guy said, "but I've seen you a couple times when I've been biking to work."

She took a closer look at his profile picture and instantly knew who he was. Monborne, a 26-year-old healthcare policy consultant in Washington, DC, had not only seen this guy twice while he was biking across Key Bridge and she was running — she'd noticed how cute he was when they locked eyes.

Today, the two are a couple.

"Our first meeting was essentially what people would write about in a [Craigslist] Missed Connections encounter," Monborne said. "Except we were able to skip the weird Craigslist post and, ironically, reclaim the connection via Bumble."

Dating apps have the potential to connect people all over the world — and indeed, they sometimes do. Yet more often than not, dating apps end up matching users who live or work within blocks of each other, or take the same commute to the office.

I asked the Business Insider staff if they'd ever heard of something like this happening, and got a flurry of responses that were essentially multiple versions of the same story. One man, for example, went to college with his now-boyfriend, but never knew he existed until they met on Tinder in Manhattan.

To be sure, some dating apps are specifically designed to connect you with people you've met — or at least could have met — in real life. Happn shows you other Happn users you've recently walked by. And Hinge matches you with friends of Facebook friends, who you might have met years ago at, say, a birthday party.

Even on apps that aren't specifically designed for reconnecting, most people opt to see matches who live close by.

Match data shared with Business Insider reveals that 69% of active users set their default distance — i.e. how far away a match can live — to five miles. Meanwhile, dating app Clover found that, in New York City, most matches happen between people from the same borough. Still, Hinge reports that less than half of users set a maximum distance, and of those who do, the average maximum distance is about 25 miles.

Dating apps can sometimes catalyze a relationship that might have unfolded in real life

Thea Domber, a 36-year-old tech executive working in New York City's Flatiron District, met her now-fiance on Tinder, only to learn that they'd worked a few blocks away from each other in the Financial District for five years.

"We both frequented the same bars after the work, the same social hangouts," she said. "It's just hard to imagine that even back then, he wouldn't have caught my attention, even for a look."

Domber's theory? "People tend to be face down in their phone. Even things that used to be social, whether you're waiting in line or eating lunch … people are just constantly checking stocks or checking email or checking Slack," she said. "They're just not noticing each other."

Sometimes, online dating can simply catalyze a relationship that would have existed, platonically, IRL. On Thought Catalog, Kelsey Thompson writes of meeting her next-door neighbor on Tinder, after which they began dating. (He initially recognized her fireplace in her profile photo because he had the same one.)

Thompson writes: "We've bumped into each other in the hallway several times since I've moved in. However, had it not been for Tinder being the catalyst for our initial meeting, I do not believe our relationship would have blossomed into a romantic one."

Anthony and Katie (they didn't want to disclose their last names) matched on Bumble in 2016, only to learn that Anthony could see Katie's apartment from his balcony. They're now engaged.

As for Monborne, she's still amazed that she's dating the cute biker from the bridge — and that a dating app gave her a second chance at meeting him. She said, "I wouldn't have ever thought growing up that this is the way I would meet a significant other."

SEE ALSO: How to figure out which dating app is the least annoying, the most convenient, and the best to help you find love

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NOW WATCH: TINDER COFOUNDER: Why the people you see on Tinder aren't random

Business Insider is looking for the 100 coolest people in food and drink in North America and Europe — and the deadline for nominations has been extended.

The Business Insider Food 100 will rank the most innovative, trend-setting, impactful, and influential people in the fantastic worlds of food and drink.

It will include, but is not limited to, the likes of...

• Chefs
• Bartenders and mixologists
• Sommeliers
• CEOs and teams behind new product launches
• Bloggers
• Nutritionists and dietitians
• Anyone doing something "cool" within the wider world of food and drink

Do you know someone with a quirky job or role who has had an impact on the industry in the past year? Did they invent a product, a drink, or a dish that has become famous? Did they open a restaurant or bar that's the first of its kind?

If so, we want to hear from you — and you can fill out a nomination form here.

Extended Deadline: Sunday June 17 by 11.59 p.m. EST.

SEE ALSO: The 25 best restaurants in the world, according to millionaire private jet owners

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NOW WATCH: Sneaky ways Costco gets you to buy more

Keeping up with the rules of dating can be a challenge, even in your own country. Depending on where you are in the world, the etiquette can vary a fair bit.

Even if you have worked out all the rules and terms for your home country, you could be lost if you search for love abroad.

Language experts at Babbel provided Business Insider with a list of appropriate ways to act on dates in different countries, covering everything from how to greet each other to who usually pays.

Here are the dating rules you need to know in 11 different countries around the world.

SEE ALSO: 12 of the most unusual pet names people call their partners in countries all over the world

1. France

When you meet up for a date with someone in France, it is common to kiss each other on the cheek twice, starting from the left (going in to the left, so their right cheek). There are some regional variations to this, too.

When on the date, it's not a good idea to bring up ex partners. It's also the done thing to split the bill.

2. Spain

In Spain, you say hello with one kiss on each cheek. It's not a great idea to bring up ex partners here either, but other taboo topics of conversation include money, politics, and religion.

Splitting the bill is common, unless the man — in a heterosexual situation — wants to be chivalrous.

3. Italy

In Italy, it's one kiss on each cheek, too. As well as exes, money, and politics, it's good to steer the conversation clear of personal issues, such as your health.

Italians have no rules about the amount of alcohol you drink on the first date. Splitting the bill is also common here.

• John Oliver on Sunday compared President Trump's approach toward the special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia investigation to OJ Simpson's defense strategy in his 1995 murder trial. 
• The "Last Week Tonight" host noted that support for Mueller's investigation has declined in public opinion polls as Trump and Fox News anchors like Sean Hannity continue to "discredit" the investigation. 
• Oliver called Trump "a sociopathic, misogynist millionaire, evolved from celeb to undeserving folk hero, who suddenly has evidence piling up he may have done something terrible, and puts the whole system on trial."
• "It's basically the story of OJ all over again," he said. "Trump is going full OJ and it's working."

"Last Week Tonight" host John Oliver on Sunday addressed the latest developments of the special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into President Trump's 2016 election campaign, which Oliver has for several episodes labeled "Stupid Watergate."

Trump and his supporters, including Fox News anchor Sean Hannity, have routinely referred to the investigation as a "witch hunt." But as Oliver noted, this investigation is a "witch hunt" that has already produced several guilty pleas and indictments. 

"If this is a witch hunt, then witches exist," Oliver said.

Oliver said support for Mueller's Russia investigation has declined in public opinion polls as Trump and Fox News have continually tried to "discredit" the investigation.

The "Last Week Tonight Host" played clips showing how Hannity "paints a picture that the investigation is itself one gigantic scandal."

In calling Trump "a sociopathic, misogynist millionaire, evolved from celeb to undeserving folk hero, who suddenly has evidence piling up he may have done something terrible, and puts the whole system on trial," Oliver compared Trump's approach toward the investigation to the defense strategy of OJ Simpson in his 1995 murder trial.

"It's basically the story of OJ all over again," he said. "Trump is going full OJ and it's working."

Watch the segment below:

SEE ALSO: Trump won't stop ripping up papers, so staffers have to literally tape them back together 'like a jigsaw puzzle'

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NOW WATCH: A Navy SEAL explains why you should get up at 4:30 am every day

• Parenthood looks different in every culture around the world.
• In some places, kids don’t start school until the age of 7, have minimal homework, and take long breaks during school.
• Here are seven unique parenting styles from around the world that could leave Americans shocked (or jealous).

Parenthood doesn't come with a rulebook. There does, however, seem to be a set of unofficial parenting guidelines, and they vary profoundly among different cultures. Parents in one country might not think twice about spanking for bad behavior, parents in other parts of the world would consider it a crime.

Some Americans would be horrified by the sight of unsupervised babies sleeping in their strollers on the sidewalks of Scandinavia, Japanese elementary students cleaning their own school toilets, or preteens sipping cabernet sauvignon with their pizza in Italy.

Here are seven unique parenting styles from around the world that might come as a surprise:

SEE ALSO: The 4 biggest mistakes I made before my kid turned 5

1. Independence at a young age

In Japan, children as young as six years old walk to school and run errands sans supervision, even in the bustling city of Tokyo, according to The Atlantic. The country's crime rates are exceptionally low, and parents expect others in the community to help look after their children.

Kids don't need a chaperone to help get them to school, nor do they need anyone else cleaning up after them once there. From as early as first grade, Japanese students sweep and mop classrooms and hallways, dust, and even sometimes clean the bathrooms in their schools, according to Mic.

2. Babies nap outside (even during the winter)

Scandinavian children are raised on the foundation of "friluftsliv," or "open-air living." It isn't abnormal to see babies napping outside in their strollers, unattended, even in the wintertime.

Expat parents have even been arrested in the US because of the common practice, The New York Times reports. But, many parents in Nordic countries still believe that al fresco napping keeps their children healthy, according to the BBC.

3. Toilet training from birth

Chinese babies are taught to relieve themselves into the toilet on command of a parent's whistle, sometimes starting when they are only a few months old. Many kids are fully potty trained by age 2, according to The Washington Post.

• Facebook is a powerful tool for people who want to post pictures, share opinions, run a business, or keep up with friends and family.
• I used to spend hours on Facebook, to the point where it was hurting my productivity and wasting my time.
• After the election, I cut way back on my Facebook use, only checking it once every two weeks.
• About six months ago, I got rid of it completely.
• Here are four reasons why I gave up Facebook, and why I’m never going back. 

I didn’t delete Facebook for any sort of moral-high-ground reasons. It had nothing to do with the Cambridge Analytica scandal or the fact that Facebook may have given my data to other companies. I’d love to say it was, but really, I just got tired of wasting my time on the platform. I’ve been weaning myself off Facebook since November 2016 (right after the election), and I’ve been completely off for about six months.

Here are four reasons I deleted Facebook, and why I’m not going back.

SEE ALSO: I stopped using my phone for 2 hours before bed, and it had a more powerful effect than I expected

1. Wedding and engagement posts

First, it was the endless stream of engagement and wedding posts. I am living life on my own timeline, and I always think of myself as someone who doesn’t get bogged down by keeping up with the social media Joneses.

But after the 70th engagement ring pic in four days, all that “I don’t care what other people are doing” really goes out the window, along with my level head and a couple ounces of self-esteem.

2. The 2016 election

After the barrage of wedding posts, it was the presidential election. Donald Trump’s victory was the catalyst for plenty of people to reduce Facebook use, NPR reports, and for good reason. Millions of people were upset, and it seemed like they all turned to their favorite easy-access megaphone: Facebook.

It’s exhausting to read the same opinions over and over, and still feel helpless about the state of our country. Sometimes I would come across well-articulated opinions that I agreed with on Facebook, voicing concerns and supplying action items. But those almost always got lost in the sea of shouted statuses and rambling blame-game posts.

3. It was wasting my time

The last straw was my time sailing by as I got pulled by the latest Betsy DeVos scandal or the engagement of someone I went to middle school with. It just seemed like such a trivial thing to let take up my time.

I already read the news. I’ve already seen the Betsy DeVos commentary — did I need to read 18 more half-baked opinions on Facebook? And while maybe I wouldn’t hear about my middle school friend expecting a baby without Facebook, did I really need that information? Do I need to keep up with lives of people I haven’t spoken to in years?

Looking at it from a cost-benefit perspective, Facebook was costing me a lot of time with virtually no benefit.

• President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un are meeting for the first time this week in Singapore.
• A major retail conference, the Consumer Goods Forum, will also be hosted at the same time in a nearby hotel and resort, the Marina Bay Sands.
• On Monday, Kim Jong Un was captured on video arriving at the Marina Bay Sands as part of a night out.

Several worlds will collide in Singapore this week.

Not only is the Asian city-state set to play host to the first meeting of President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, but several key retail executives are also scheduled to meet nearby for the Consumer Goods Forum, which kicks off on Tuesday.

The four-day event is being held at one of Singapore's most luxurious, best-known resorts, the Marina Bay Sands, which includes a hotel, a mall, a casino, and several bars and restaurants.

It's the same place where Kim was spotted arriving on Monday evening. The North Korean leader was greeted with loud cheering as he entered the hotel's lobby downstairs — perhaps headed for the rooftop bar on the hotel's 57th floor.

While Kim isn't staying at the hotel, he's only 15 minutes away at the St. Regis.

On Wednesday, Marina Bay Sands is expected to be full of retail executives from companies including Coca-Cola, Colgate, L'Oréal, and Alibaba. Each evening, attendees from the conference will be meeting to socialize.

Coca-Cola will be hosting a cocktail party on Wednesday. The CEO and president of the company, James Quincey, will be speaking at the conference.

SEE ALSO: Kim Jong Un is getting cheered like a rock star on a night out in Singapore

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Take a look inside this avocado-only restaurant

• Jocko Willink served as the commander of SEAL Team 3 Task Unit Bruiser.
• Willink said to be a Navy SEAL you have to consider the job you're signing up for, without romantic frills: "You're going to be risking your life; you're going to be shooting guns; your job is to kill people."
• Men who join the SEALs tend to be young men with a "high-level of aggression" who, through discipline, learn to refine their headstrong attitude and use it productively.

Jocko Willink wanted to serve in the military ever since he could remember.

As a child, Willink played with ornate miniature toy soldiers and wore Army-Navy gear everywhere he went, the retired Navy SEAL commander told Business Insider's Rich Feloni on an episode of the podcast "Success! How I Did It." Despite his grandfather serving in the Army for 20 years, Willink said there was just something inside him that wanted to fight as a Navy SEAL. He went on to have a 20-year career in the SEALs, and served as the commander of SEAL Team 3 Task Unit Bruiser, the most highly decorated special operations unit of the Iraq War.

"I guess there are some people who say, 'I want to be a businessman,' and there are some people who say, 'I want to be a rock star,' and there are some people who say, 'I want to be a car mechanic,' and I wanted to be a machine gunner in a SEAL platoon, you know?" Willink said.

He went through a six-month training process that weeded out 80% of the people who signed up. Willink said you have to consider the job you're getting into, without the romantic frills that movies can sugarcoat: "You're going to be risking your life; you're going to be shooting guns; your job is to kill people ... And your job is to take the risk of being killed."

Willink said there are people who decide to take that route and become criminals. The key with the military path is that it takes those impulses and refines them through discipline.

One major misconception about military personalities is unquestioningly taking orders — which is a complete fallacy, Willink said. He said young SEALS, including himself at the beginning of his career, "get in trouble all the time" (getting into a bar fight, for example) because of their aggressive, independent personalities.

"We constantly have to rein guys in. And those are the kind of guys you want. There's nothing wrong with those guys. But, you know, they're born to do something," Willink said. Getting older and growing with the SEALS steered him and his team in the right direction, he said.

"I just grew up. And I mean, sure people would say stuff along the way, but nothing that was so impactful, nothing that was remotely as impactful as just getting older," Willink said. "You start to see, well, 'What do I want to do? And where do I want to go?' And you need to put yourself on the right path."

SEE ALSO: A retired Navy SEAL commander says he learned one of his biggest leadership lessons through a mutiny

SEE ALSO: A day in the life of a retired Navy SEAL commander, who wakes up at 4:30 a.m., trains in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, and doesn't eat for 72 hours at a time

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: This glassblowing master sculpts incredibly realistic animals out of glass

• Parenthood is wildly different now than when I was a child.
• There are many things my parents let me do that I would never let my own kids do today — like spend a month in Europe on my own or light fireworks.
• Sure, wandering miles from home and staying home alone during middle school worked out for me and my brother in the 80s and 90s, but that was then.
• Here are eight things my parents let me do that I would never let my kids do.

Maybe the times have changed, or maybe I'm just not as laid back in my approach to parenting as my folks were. There are a lot of things my parents let me do that I would never allow my own kids to do.

My wife and I will encourage our kids (currently a four-year-old and an infant) to be freethinking and eager to explore the world, but that doesn't mean they'll be free to roam without supervision like I often did.

Sure, wandering miles from home during grade school, playing with fireworks, and road trips at age 16 worked out for my brother and me back in the 80s and 90s, but that was then.

Here are things my parents let me do that I’ll never allow my kids to do.

SEE ALSO: 7 ways people raise their kids around the world that US parents could learn from

1. I spent a month in Europe at age 14 ... without my parents

When I was 14, my buddy and I headed off to Europe for a month without parents. We were enrolled in a Spanish-language course that provided housing, meals, a daily schedule, and a nightly curfew. But for about four hours each afternoon and for entire weekend days, we were free to roam the lovely Spanish city of Salamanca without the least bit of supervision.

Since we were very mature eighth-grade graduates, we got into some trouble. For instance, I once got a mouthful of red wine vinegar after making a mistaken purchase at a grocery store. We also got chased out of a restaurant after accidentally exploding a glass ashtray using a butane lighter. 

My kids aren't going on any overseas odysseys without me until they're at least a few years older than I was.

2. I drove alone starting the day I got my license

I got my driver's license the day I turned 16, and that very day I was allowed to hop into our blue Toyota Previa and head out on the road alone. Granted, I drove all of two miles that first afternoon, but within a matter of weeks I was cruising around with impunity, even driving myself to school despite the fact that sophomores weren't supposed to. (For the record, my parents didn't know about that particular school policy.)

My kids can start driving themselves around alone after first driving around with my wife or me in the car for a year.

3. I played with fire ... literally

In my younger years, fireworks were one of life’s greatest pleasures. We would even combine the contents of multiple cherry bombs, rockets, and roman candles into one horribly dangerous concoction.

Looking back from the vantage point of adulthood, it's a miracle that I have all ten fingers and zero burn scars. It's an absolute certainty that my kids aren't going to play around with fireworks of any kind — especially not without me there to play, too.

• Your kitchen towel could be one of the germiest things in the house.
• A new study found kitchen towels can be a breeding ground for E. coli.
• Experts suggest you should swap out your kitchen towel every other day to be safe.
• Meat-eaters and people with large families or shared kitchens should be especially conscientious, and clean towels more often.

Kitchen towels are a chef's essential. They can serve triple duty in a busy cooking environment, wiping up spills, cleaning surfaces, and drying hands. 

But foodies, beware: If you're not careful about how often you wash your towels, your kitchen rags could become a breeding ground for dangerous, stomach-sickening germs. 

Unwashed kitchen towels provide a great place for dangerous pathogens to thrive, especially when the towels stay wet, or come in contact with meat. A new study presented at the American Society for Microbiology meeting on Saturday revealed that moist and dirty kitchen towels can harbor bacteria that make you ill and even cause serious infections like E. coli. 

For the study, researchers handed out 100 fresh kitchen towels to people and sent them home to use the rags for a one-month study period. Participants were allowed to wash the towels as often as they pleased, according to Infectious Disease News.

Then the researchers rounded the dirty towels up, and took a look at what was growing on the fabric. The results weren't pretty. 

The microbiologists found that roughly half of the 100 towels were growing dangerous microbes, including the potentially infection-inducing Staphylococcus (also known as "staph") and E. coli.

Non-vegetarian homes were more likely to have E. coli on their towels, but veggie-eaters weren't completely safe, either. The study authors said vegetarians had more Enterococcus on their towels. It's another type of bacteria that can lead to infection, especially in older adults. 

"Diet, type of use, and moist kitchen towels could be very important in promoting the growth of potential pathogens responsible for food poisoning," lead study author Susheela Biranjia-Hurdoyal of the University of Mauritius said in a release. 

Microbiologists have long recommended that people wash their kitchen towels every other day. This new study complicates that advice, suggesting it's not just how often you wash your towels, but also how you use them that determines how dirty they get and how often they should be swapped.

Here are a few basic tips for keeping kitchen towels germ-free:

• Keep them dry. Bacteria love moisture, and humid towels grow more of it. Keep your towels splayed open on a rack or rod where they can dry out in between uses, and consider getting a towel with nylon or polyester in the fabric, as they'll dry faster than 100% cotton towels.
• Use different towels for different chores. In the study, multi-purpose towels were more likely to have bad bacteria growing on them, suggesting it's better to keep a towel for cleaning surfaces like tables and countertops separate from your hand towel. Biranjia-Hurdoyal conducted an earlier study of kitchen tables in 2016 and found they can also be hangout spots for dangerous bacteria. If you wipe your eating spaces with a clean, dedicated cloth, there's less room for cross-contamination.
• Change your towels often if you share your kitchen with others, especially older adults. More people sharing a kitchen means you're also more likely to spread and share germs (yum!). In the study, kitchen towels shared by larger families were more likely to be contaminated than others, especially if those families had kids around. Change your towels frequently if you've got a big, shared kitchen, and especially if you have older adults in the house, as they're more susceptible to picking up infections.
• Be especially careful if you’re using towels for wiping meaty hands. E. coli bacteria from the guts of animals — especially cows, sheep, and goats — can easily end up in raw meat and unpasteurized milk or cheese. So if you're handling these foods in the kitchen, it's best to change to a fresh set of towels when you're done. 
• When in doubt, sniff it out. "If there is odor coming from the towel, wherever there is odor, there are microbes growing, so it should be washed," Philip Tierno, a microbiologist and pathologist at the New York University School of Medicine, previously told Business Insider. So if your kitchen towel is not smelling too fresh, wash it up. Then give it a spin in the dryer, where heat can help kill anything that didn't get annihilated in the washer.

If you follow this simple advice, there’s no reason to be overly-paranoid about what's lurking on your kitchen towels.

Remember, microbes are literally everywhere, and most of them are harmless. In fact, having some of them on board can make us more resilient and healthy, and might even help people avoid getting sick in the first place.

So wash those used towels up every few days and enjoy your fresh, dry, disease-free kitchen.

SEE ALSO: How often to clean everything you own, from your toilet to your phone, according to science

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: You're probably defrosting your food all wrong — here are 4 ways to do it safely

• Photo-editing app VSCO has surpassed one million paid users.
• It's one of the fastest-growing subscription-based businesses in the world, in spite of fierce competition from lots of free apps and Instagram.
• The CEO of VSCO says Generation Z is driving the app's explosive growth.

Every day more than 95 million photos are shared to Instagram. It's a juggernaut in the field of social networks, with more than 800 million monthly active users.

So it's noteworthy that an Instagram alternative called VSCO has surpassed one million paid users for VSCO X, its subscription service launched in early 2017.

The app's rapid trajectory makes it one of the fastest growing subscription-based businesses in the world, and has helped grow VSCO's revenue 91% year over year in 2017. It's on track to increase revenue 100% this year, according to the company.

A subscription to VSCO X, which unlocks exclusive photo-editing tools and tutorials, costs $19.99 a year. That might not sound like much, but consider that there are dozens of free apps like it, and Instagram has its own suite of filters and tools that let users play with their photos and share with family and friends without ever having to leave the app.

As it turns out, it's Generation Z that's helping VSCO X rocket up the charts.

People under the age of 25 make up nearly 75% of all VSCO users, with Generation Z accounting for the largest segment of paid customers on VSCO X, according to the company. The fastest growing group of VSCO users are between the ages of 13 and 17.

There was a period of time when this surprised founder and CEO Joel Flory, a former wedding photographer who started the company in 2011 with an art-director friend.

"We were building [the product] for ourselves and realized that we no longer were the majority of users on VSCO," Flory told Business Insider at the startup's headquarters in Oakland.

From the beginning, VSCO set itself apart from rival photo apps and social networks by doing away with "vanity metrics," such as likes, comments, and follower counts. There are no ads or leadersboard, but instead, a feed of carefully curated content.

"For us, the only thing we wanted to show with the photo is the person who made it. That's really what we wanted it to be about," Flory said.

According to Flory, this focus on the creator really resonated with Generation Z. With the launch of a subscription service, VSCO learned that young people were even willing to pay for tools in an app space that let them "be who they are ... try new things," without the pressure and anxiety around building a following and collecting likes.

Born between the mid-1990s and early 2000s, Generation Z is building a reputation as the most socially conscious age group. A recent white paper from MNI Targeted Media Inc., a division of the Meredith Corporation, found that more than half of Generation Z say that knowing a brand has strong values and is "doing their part to make the world a better place" is important to them and directly influences their buying decisions.

"This generation makes sophisticated choices about identity, purpose, and values," researchers at the firm said. "They've spent their lives surrounded by digital content and they know how to filter anything that lacks the right tone, language, and relevancy."

VSCO is the fifth most popular photo and video app for iPhones in the US, according to app market data company App Annie, behind YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, and Google Photos, in that order. Its number of monthly active users has been rising over the last year, while Instagram's rank remains stable. Flory has largely Generation Z to thank.

The team at VSCO is constantly adding new filters, photo-editing tools, and educational content to the VSCO X platform so that the value of their subscription builds all the time.

"It's really about providing the ultimate experience for that creative," Flory said. "For us, it's not about some other company's way. It's about the VSCO way."

SEE ALSO: 37 incredible drone photos from across the globe that would be totally illegal today

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NOW WATCH: I quit social media for a month — and it was the best choice I've ever made

The summer movie season is heating up.

It got an early start this year with "Avengers: Infinity War" when its release date changed from May 4 to a week earlier on April 27. Since then, movies like "Deadpool 2," "Solo: A Star Wars Story," and "Ocean's 8" have hit theaters.

And that's just the beginning.

This week sees the long-awaited Pixar sequel "Incredibles 2" finally come to theaters, followed next week by "Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom." Later this summer, Marvel's "Ant-Man and the Wasp," Dwayne Johnson's "Skyscraper," the latest in the "Mission: Impossible" franchise, and more will arrive. 

With a lot to look forward to, we've looked back on the great summer movies of past years. Superhero blockbusters like "The Avengers," animated adventures like "Shrek," and R-rated comedies like "Superbad" stood out among the best of the best.

We've picked the best summer movie of every year since 2000. In this case, we counted any movie that was released in May, June, July, and August. 

Below is the best summer movie of every year since 2000:

SEE ALSO: All of the DC Comics movies currently in the works, including one starring The Rock

2000: "X-Men"

Release date: July 14, 2000

The original "X-Men" helped kickstart the modern superhero movie craze. The franchise has since become cluttered and its timeline confusing, but its future may rest in the Disney-Fox deal. 

2001: "Shrek"

Release date: May 18, 2001

A movie that still inspires countless memes, mostly related to that Smash Mouth song, "Shrek" was the first movie to ever win the Oscar for Best Animated Feature. 

2002: "Spider-Man"

Release date: May 3, 2002

If "X-Men" helped start the modern superhero craze, then the original "Spider-Man" set the blueprint for the majority of its colorful movies. "Spider-Man" was fun and campy, similar to what the Marvel Cinematic Universe has aspired to be. 

• Samantha Wasser, co-founder of the international vegan fast-casual chain By Chloe, just opened a new Middle Eastern restaurant called Dez, which is short for desert. 
• The chef at Dez is Eden Grinshpan, star of the Cooking Channel show "Eden Eats."
• The food served at Dez has some very personal touches. "[The food] is exactly the way [Eden] would prepare it for you if you came to her home," founder Sam Wasser said.

By Chloe, a vegan fast-casual chain, has become an international success since opening in 2015. The chain now has 10 stores, including a new location in London, where another is on the way. 

By Chloe co-founder Samantha Wasser recently opened her latest fast-casual spot, which is in collaboration with chef Eden Grinshpan, who hosts the Cooking Channel's "Eden Eats." Called Dez, short for desert, the restaurant serves up a mix of Middle Eastern food, including dishes like Moroccan lamb meatballs, harissa curry shakshuka, and falafel cauliflower pita.

Though Grinshpan had been sitting on the concept for a couple of years, the idea to open a restaurant came about after she hosted a pop-up in Brooklyn. She received so many positive responses that within weeks, she was meeting with Esquared Hospitality, which also operates By Chloe. 

The menu at Dez took more than two years to come together. The prices are relatively low, with meze costing $6 and salads priced at $11. 

Grinshpan, who is half-Israeli, said the Middle Eastern concept hits close to home. 

"The food that I'm cooking at Dez, every dish has a story," she told Business Insider. "You get Persian influence, you get Moroccan influence, you get so many different cultures that you can see sprinkled in throughout the entire menu. Nothing is super traditional."

While this is Grinshpan's first restaurant, Wasser is clearly no stranger to the fast-casual industry. The hope is to appeal to millennials in much the same way that By Chloe does, and to eventually grow Dez's presence elsewhere. 

"What I love about the fast-casual industry right now is that it's pretty much designed for me and my peers, and millennials as well, where people want delicious food that is well-sourced and well-curated in a high designed space. And that's kind of where fast food is lacking," she said.

We recently went to Dez to see what it was all about. Here's what it was like:

SEE ALSO: This chain wants to be the McDonald's of vegan fast food — here's what it's like to eat there

Dez is located in Soho, just around the corner from By Chloe.

It was pretty busy considering that it had only been open for two hours when I visited.

There were colorful decorations and plants throughout the interior, and a cardboard camel decorated with flowers sat in the front of the restaurant. While designing Dez, Wasser placed an emphasis on creating a well-designed space. "I think more people are going to be paying attention to the setting and the packaging. People want to have fun when they're eating," she told Business Insider.

• Vic Mensa spoke with Business Insider about his experiences of working with Jay-Z, Pharrell, and No I.D. on his debut studio album, "The Autobiography."
• Among other topics, Mensa discussed how he plans to save lives on the south side of Chicago through his new non-profit foundation.

The past few years of Vic Mensa's career have set the 25-year-old rapper on a distinctive path to stardom. 

In 2017, Jay-Z and the legendary producer No I.D. served as the executive producers of Mensa's debut studio album, "The Autobiography," which also featured production from Pharrell Williams. A Roc Nation signee, Mensa followed the release of his album by opening for Jay-Z on the entirety of his 2017 "4:44 Tour." 

In his music and outside of it, Mensa has become a dynamic voice on a host of social justice issues. He recently launched a non-profit foundation, SaveMoneySaveLife, with the goal of combatting inequality in Chicago, his hometown. He also recently wrote an op-ed for Time criticizing Israel's treatment of Palestinians. 

Mensa spoke with Business Insider in a phone interview on Friday, between soundchecks on a tour date in Toronto, and following his performance at Governors Ball music festival last weekend.

He discussed his experiences of working with Jay-Z, Pharrell, and No I.D., how he plans to save lives on the south side of Chicago, and what we can expect from his next LP.

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.

John Lynch: I got to see your set at Gov Ball. How did that Gov Ball performance compare to some of the other shows you've had this summer?

Vic Mensa: Gov Ball was actually really special. I felt like Gov Ball had a uniquely strong energy, you know? It kind of felt like a '90s Lollapalooza-type energy. I thought that it was an opportunity for me to say what I mean, to tell the world what I'm about. I always try to take performances as an opportunity to implant my spirit into the hearts and minds of anyone in a hundred-yard vicinity. And I think I got that across.  

Lynch: On "Memories on 47th Street," you talk about how you almost died sneaking into Lollapalooza in 2010. Eight years later, you're killing it at these summer festivals. What do these large-scale performances mean to you, as someone who almost died getting into a festival?

Mensa: Coming from Chicago, Lollapalooza is the one weekend of the summer when actual Chicagoans are kept out [laughs]. You know, just monetarily, we didn't grow up with Lollapalooza tickets. Most people in Chicago don't grow up with Lollapalooza tickets. Situations led me to actually come very close to death getting into Lollapalooza. So when I'm able to step out on stage, and a huge crowd erupts at a festival in the summertime, that's special for me.

After I fell off the bridge at Lollapalooza, my father took me to Ghana. His dad's side of the family, their religion is Vodun, that's the original voodoo. So his uncle was like doing some incantations and pouring libations to the ancestors and the spirits, thanking them for my protection. At that moment I really felt like I was on this land alive, with a purpose, and for a reason. And I try to stand on that, live by that, especially when I get the opportunity to kind of be a ghost in these festivals where I could have been dead. 

Lynch: On a similar note, opening for Jay-Z on this "4:44 Tour," what sort of wisdom is he imparting to you there about the game, or about touring in particular?

Mensa: Touring? I'll say the wisdom he gave to me is to focus on my mission. Don't be distracted by the trappings of the industry, and bickering and beef. To keep my line of sight tunnel visioned on my bigger purpose. 

Lynch: I mean, like Jay and Kanye, you're one of the few artists who's been able to say, "No I.D. on the track / Let the story begin." How did that man allow you to tell your story on "The Autobiography"?

Mensa: Man, I am a No I.D. super-fan, so... [pauses]. I'm a No I.D. super-fan. Ever since the first Common albums. I mean, Common was and is like my favorite rapper. "Resurrection," and "One Day It'll All Make Sense," and "Can I Borrow a Dollar?" sh-t. All that sh-t. That's the music that raised me, that I studied, and that I lived with, and that I laughed with, that I fought with, rode the bus with. So being able to learn from one of the masters like that felt like a true moment of fate, and also just like a blessing. 

Lynch: My favorite track off the album is "Wings." How would you say the process of working with No I.D. compares to working with Pharrell, who you've collaborated with a couple times?

Mensa: Pharrell... [pauses]. Pharrell is just one of the dopest collaborators of all time. I mean, he taught me so much before I ever met him, and helped to validate me as a skateboarding kid on the southside of Chicago who liked rock 'n' roll music. So getting in the studio with him, and really feeling his energy, having him give me real advice about life and sh-t, and also just him being a fan of my music, that meant everything. 

Lynch: You were featured on "Life of Pablo," and you were also at that Madison Square Garden listening party for it in 2016, which was wild. I'm wondering how you think this new Kanye album rollout compares to the "Pablo" rollout. I mean, you might be biased because you were at MSG for that one.

Mensa: I don't really know much about the rollout. I just know that they're putting out seven song albums, which I like. That's all I know about the rollout, though. 

Lynch: So, in your work with SaveMoneySaveLife, you're already actively helping the community of Chicago. What's your vision for it moving forward? What are you planning for it in the next couple years?

Mensa: We want to literally save a lot of lives by training and equipping a large number of people in first-aid response. We also want to bring seasoned mental-health professionals into Chicago Public Schools, psychotherapists, psychiatrists, in a way that allows them to really help the kids and not just rotate 20 schools once a week. And we have a program called "UniVerse" that is designed to really bridge the link between the black community and the Native American community. So, we've got a lot of things in the pipeline.

I'd like to have an ambulance force, in the way that Hasidic Jewish communities have, as a part of the StreetMedics training program. That's the goal of the StreetMedics program is to be able to have our own ambulance forces in our communities — that could go from Chicago, and export out to Detroit, and export out to Los Angeles and New York. Because across the board, our communities are underserved, and ambulances take longer to come get us. We die waiting for help, so we need to be able to help ourselves. So that's the long-term goal.

Lynch: You had a recent essay on the plight of Palestinians in Time. I'm wondering what made you decide to go to Time with that in particular, or to write it even, as an opinion article?

Mensa: Well, I knew I was going to write an article when I was there, when I was asked by a man with a face of leather, in a circle of activists, artists, and poets, to go back to America and tell the world what I saw there. And to place pressure on the US to stop supporting Israel's oppression of the Palestinians. It was pretty much decided at that point, that I'd be going home and I'd be speaking about it in a significant way. I took it to a lot of places, and a lot of people were very hesitant, and sometimes, it was pointed out, flat-out "higher-ups" just being like, "No, you cannot speak about Palestine. You cannot speak against Israel." That's the power that Israel wields, especially in the music industry. So, I was lucky that I was able to get it with a very respected publication like Time Magazine. 

They did me a favor, too, by making the headline "What Palestine Taught Me About American Racism," because my piece was originally titled "Nora's Tears." Nora is an old woman that I speak about in the piece whose home in Jerusalem has been a target for Israeli development for 30, 40 years, and they've been trying to kick her out of it and move Jewish people in. But Time Magazine changed my headline to be "What Palestine Taught Me About American Racism," which juxtaposes the Palestinian struggle with the undeniable American racist struggle. Because many people deny the Palestinian struggle. They deny them everything. They deny them humanity, they deny them the right to be on the land they were born in. They deny them the right to return to the homes that were stolen from them, to build Israel. But not many people deny that America is racist. That's pretty impossible at this point in time.

Lynch: In my last question here, your new single, "Reverse," is a great track. I've got to say I'm not a G-Eazy fan, but the way you use him there is pretty cold [laughs]. 

Mensa: Thanks, bro.

Lynch: How are you conceptualizing this next album? How are you thinking about it at this point?

Mensa: You know, whenever I get into making an album, it's always like a really self-reflective, self-expressive journey. And I'm learning about myself in real time. Putting in hard work on myself to really say the things that I want to say in music. So, expect something honest, personal. It's going to be powerful, aggressive, beautiful, sad — all those things. 

SEE ALSO: Inside Bonnaroo: How the music festival doubled down on its roots to rebound from record-low attendance in 2016

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• Learning a few key phrases in another language can help you in your travels.
• They include basics like "excuse me" and "thank you" as well as ways to help you navigate around busy cities.

There are more than 6,000 languages in the world, but the vast majority of people won't learn more than two or three.

Language barriers can cause frustration and inconvenience if you're traveling to a country where English isn't commonly spoken. I experienced the difficulties firsthand throughout my travels, which have taken me to 25 countries across Southeast Asia, Europe, and Latin America.

Although most of us would love to have fluent conversations in every local language we come across, it simply isn't a realistic option. Still, I managed to get by in places like Thailand, Sri Lanka, and France by studying up on just a few key phrases in the local languages.

Here are the 11 words and phrases I recommend anyone learns in a new language before they travel to a foreign country.

SEE ALSO: 13 places to travel in July for every type of traveler

DON'T MISS: The most annoying things about the English language, from people who are learning it

"Thank you"

If I could only pick one phrase for foreign travelers to learn in a new language, it would be "thank you."

Travelers often find themselves relying on the kindness of strangers to navigate unfamiliar cities, plan their trips, and get home safely. Learning how to say "thank you" goes a long way to showing your appreciation, and most people will respect the effort you took to acknowledge in their own language.

"Hello" and "goodbye"

Learning how to open and close a conversation is another polite thing you can do to show your appreciation for the people you're speaking with. Even if you have to revert to English for the rest of the conversation, a simple "hello" and "goodbye" in your speaking partner's local language can show you care.

"Excuse me"

"Excuse me" comes in handy on countless occasions, from asking someone for directions to squeezing your way through a crowded subway car. 

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un keeps a close watch over the media in his country, controlling much of what citizens know of the outside world, and vice versa.

His people don't officially know Kim is in Singapore to meet with President Donald Trump on Tuesday in a historic summit. They'll likely find out after Kim returns home on Wednesday.

Though Kim has fought to present the Hermit Kingdom to the world as a bastion of military might, nuclear power, and anti-West sentiment, the reality of daily life is grim.

Much of the country lives in poverty, tens of thousands of people are held as political prisoners, and the government tightly controls most aspects of life.

Here's what Kim's North Korea looks like:

SEE ALSO: The mysterious life of Kim Jong Un's wife, Ri Sol-ju, who probably has 3 children and frequently disappears from the public eye

DON'T MISS: Mystery children and sibling rivalries — this is Kim Jong Un's family tree

READ MORE: A photographer captured these dismal photos of life in North Korea

Day-to-day life in North Korea can be bleak. Sanctions put in place to punish the nation for its nuclear weapons tests have crippled the economy.

Source: Business Insider

The Hermit Kingdom, one of the most closed-off places in the world, has experienced increasingly severe food shortages in recent years.

Source: Business Insider

Childhood in North Korea can be difficult. Many children in rural areas have to work on farms, and forced labor drives much of the country's economic output.

Sources: Business Insider, Human Rights Watch

• After living in North Korea for 20 years, defector Kim Young-il told Business Insider that North Korean experts focus exclusively on misleading North Korean government propaganda. 
• Kim says that because those experts tend to discount the testimony of defectors like himself, they can't accurately represent what life in North Korea is like.
• "The official announcements of North Korea is all false," Kim said.

  ---

As US president Donald Trump prepares to meet with North Korea's ruler Kim Jong Un in Singapore on Tuesday, all eyes are on North Korea.

Little is known about day-to-day life there, even among people who study the country. According to one defector, government propaganda in North Korea is pervasive, and even self-proclaimed North Korean experts often don't realize how much. 

In 1997, North Korean defector Kim Young-il escaped while the country was experiencing a four-year-long famine and economic crisis that some estimates suggest claimed the lives of between 240,000 and 3.5 million North Koreans, out of a population of 22 million — despite the government claiming it was a prosperous time with plenty of food.

Now 39, Kim is the founder of a nonprofit, People for Successful Corean Reunification (PSCORE), to help raise awareness about human rights issues in North Korea, promote reunification, and help defectors adjust to life in South Korea. 

Even though Kim escaped the dictatorship, he told Business Insider in a recent interview that life remains the same in North Korea: Citizens are lied to and have to accept it. Within Korea, people major in North Korean studies in school, which Kim finds "silly." He says these experts research North Korea and send information to the South Korean government, like reports that several factions are competing for power in North Korea, which could lead to the country's downfall. 

But Kim says this is false. "There is no difference between factions. There is only the family and the people. Kim Jong Un has total power. None of these factions are important. They just have a name. They have no power." Kim continued: "Experts say there are two different factions that control North Korea, but it is only the dictator and his family that controls everything."

Powerful people in South Korea are able to employ people who are loyal to them, but that's not an option in North Korea because the highest levels of government choose who works where, said Kim. 

"People in North Korea have no idea if the person working underneath them is a spy who is checking up on him or her. They have no idea who is trustworthy. People can't form factions because everyone is spying on everyone else. Everyone distrusts each other," Kim said.

And as a defector, Kim said experts discount his experience. "These experts don't see any value in the testimony of defectors," he said. "They want to focus on the official documents of the North Korean government." But Kim says these documents and official announcements "are not true. It's propaganda." 

"The official announcements of North Korea is all false," Kim said. "I experienced 20 years of North Korea and whenever there was a season of drought, the news would say there is a season of prosperity. What they officially say is all lies."

SEE ALSO: North Koreans understand their government lies, but there's one thing they don't know, according to a defector

SEE ALSO: A North Korean defector says Trump understands Kim Jong Un better than South Korea does, but the summit won't solve anything

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: A North Korean defector tells us what life was like under a dictatorship

• Middle-class, rich, and low-income Americans don't have the same morning routines.
• A study from Business Insider partner MSN shows just how much their morning routines differ — and how they're similar.
• The super-rich are most likely to wake up before 6.a.m., get in a full workout each morning, and plan their daily schedules the night before. 

From the moment they wake up, middle-class, rich, and low-income Americans go about their mornings in different ways. 

A poll from MSN surveyed Americans on their morning routines. It then used machine learning and big data, such as the census, to model how a representative sample of the US would have responded. It's as accurate as a traditional scientific survey, MSN said.

Those who earn more than $175,000 are most likely to wake up before 6.a.m., plan their daily schedules the night before, and get in a full workout each morning. 

The correlation between an early wakeup time and higher income is an interesting one, and appears to be in line with other research. 

As Business Insider previously reported, in his five-year study of 177 self-made millionaires, author Thomas C. Corley found that nearly half of them woke up at least three hours before their workday actually began.

Indeed, some of the worlds most successful people wake up with or before the sun, and these early risers often credit those "extra" hours with getting a head start on the day, more creative thinking time, fitting in a workout, and spending time with family.

Of course, it's important to keep in mind that correlation does not equal causation. Having or not having any of these different routines doesn't determine your income level, and one morning routine isn't inherently better than the next. In fact, plenty of other successful people wake up after 8 a.m.

Here's how America's different income classes tend to begin their days.

SEE ALSO: 19 things successful people do in the first 10 minutes of the workday

DON'T MISS: How to design the ideal morning routine if you're a night owl

The super-rich — those who make more than $175,000 — are the least likely to lay out their clothes the night before.

Almost half of the super-rich plan out their day, compared to less than a third of those who earn below $75,000.

Of those who make less than $25,000, 18% wake up later than 8 a.m. Six-figure earners are more likely to say they wake up before 6 a.m.

• On Monday, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visited the luxury Marina Bay Sands resort as part of a tour of Singapore's attractions.
• Marina Bay Sands is a landmark in Singapore, featuring a hotel, casino, museum, shopping mall, and incredible views of the city and the bay.
• We stayed at Marina Bay Sands to see if it's really worth the expensive price tag.

Before getting down to business for Tuesday's summit, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has been touring some of Singapore's most luxurious tourist attractions — including the extravagant Marina Bay Sands resort and hotel, where the local crowd greeted him like a rock star.

At its opening in 2010, Marina Bay Sands was the world's most expensive stand-alone casino, featuring 500 tables, 1,600 slot machines, and priced at around $6.6 billion USD.

Marina Bay Sands is also home to a luxury 5-star hotel, shopping mall, convention center, museum, two theaters, multiple upscale restaurants, and two floating pavilions. To top it all off, a Skywalk connects its three buildings and features restaurants, an observation deck, and an infinity pool that looks out over Marina Bay.

I recently got the chance to stay at Marina Bay Sands and experience its best-known attractions. Here's a look inside:

SEE ALSO: We asked South Koreans what they think will come out of the Trump-Kim summit, and they were surprisingly optimistic

DON'T MISS: A North Korean defector says Trump understands Kim Jong Un better than South Korea does, but the summit won't solve anything

Accompanied by a large security detail, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visited Marina Bay Sands on Monday before Tuesday's summit with Trump.

Singapore's foreign minister Vivian Balakrishnan showed him around.

Source: Business Insider

Last week, I got to the Marina Bay Sands (sans security escort) via Singapore's super efficient metro, which stops directly underneath the hotel.