System for optimizing bandwidth during an online meeting comprises a plurality of data processing systems, wherein each of the data processing systems is associated with a user and comprises a processor, and a memory comprising a digital client and a digital client display interface, wherein the processor causes the digital client to publish an audio-visual stream comprising a video component and an audio component from the corresponding data processing system. A first data processing system, among the plurality of data processing systems is configured to receive an instruction to optimize the bandwidth by limiting the number of data processing systems from which an audio-visual stream is to be played in the first digital client display interface. Further, the first data processing system may play, in the first digital client display interface, an audio-visual stream from each of the number of data processing systems as instructed by the first user.