Greek prisoners master TikTok and go live straight from jail

Greek inmates have embraced TikTok and are actively going live straight from their prison cells, even participating in battles. A viral video online shows three men, who appear to be in prison based on their shared cell and use of prison slang. Despite security measures, they have access to a mobile phone, internet connection, and the TikTok app, where they actively take part in “Live Battles,” a feature that can generate income.

The TikTok feature is called Live Battle or Match. Two users livestream simultaneously and compete against each other for a few minutes (usually 3 to 5) in real time. Viewers support their favorite streamer with emojis, digital gifts, and paid items. The battles include a timer, music, a scoreboard, and audience points, with a winner announced at the end. The more gifts a streamer receives, the higher their score and potential earnings.

Viewers buy TikTok “coins” using credit cards or PayPal, then use them to send digital gifts to streamers. The streamer converts these into diamonds, which can be exchanged for real money.

For example, a “Rose” is worth about €0.01, a “Lion” can reach €400, and the “TikTok Universe” gift can be worth up to €500. Income can reach €1000 per stream for influencers with a loyal audience. TikTok keeps about 50% commission, and the rest is transferred to the streamer via bank, PayPal, or other methods.

What’s shocking is that this is being done by criminals inside Greek prisons. The three inmates in the video appear to have a mobile phone and are using a 4G connection. They speak calmly, smile, and ask viewers to “boost” their score to win the match.