COORDINATING SIDE CONVERSATIONS WITHIN VIRTUAL CONFERENCING SYSTEM

Aspects of the present disclosure involve a system comprising a computer-readable storage medium storing a program and method for coordinating a side conversation within a virtual conferencing system. The program and method provide, for each of plural participants within a room, display of a participant video element correspond to the participant and including a user-selectable button to initiate a side conversation with the participant; receive indication of a user selection, by a first participant, of the user-selectable button for initiating the side conversation with a second participant; provide for a side conversation between a first device of the first participant and a second device of the second participant, the first and second participants maintaining presence in the room during the side conversation; and cause, for each of the plural participants, modified display of the participant video elements corresponding to the first and second participants, to indicate the side conversation.