The term YND first originated within Hong Kong academia in the 1990s to describe a perceived trend of youth on the margins of society.
[4] The social background of the YNDs in Hong Kong is quite different from similar delinquent youth in other countries.
Unlike the findings in previous studies, new research has shown that YNDs are not socially isolated, but instead tend to have close friends who belong to the same night drifting group.
Some YNDs have previously admitted that their academic performance is poor and that their relationships with teachers have been strained.
With peer influence-related reasons, company with other YND friends and seeking entertainment are major causes of them being YNDs.
[4] In family-related reasons, the parents of the YNDs are seldom home at night, or some of the drifters suffer from domestic violence.
Besides convenience stores and the like, leisure playgrounds or football courts are popular sites for YNDs to stay.
Substance abuse, engaging in sex activities or work, thieving, bullying, creating public nuisances and risking personal security are the common problems that drifters face.