Speaker switching delay for video conferencing

A method for switching active speakers during a video conferencing session, the method comprising:

• providing for presentation in a main display area of a display screen, an image of an active speaker in a video conference, wherein the active speaker is one of a plurality of users participating in the video conference over a network;
• detecting a new active speaker of the plurality of users participating in the video conference;
• determining resolutions of video streams received for each of the plurality of users participating in the video conference;
• comparing the resolution of the video stream received for the new active speaker with the resolution of the video stream received for the active speaker;
• in response to determining that the resolution of the video stream received for the new active speaker is lower than the resolution of the video stream received for the active speaker, continuing to provide for presentation in the main display area the image of the active speaker for a period of time adjustable during the video conference session based on a change to one or more characteristics of the network and one or more characteristics of the plurality of users;
• and
• in response to determining that the period of time has elapsed, providing for presentation in the main display area of the display screen an image of the new active speaker corresponding to a highest resolution video stream received for the new active speaker, wherein the image of the new active speaker is provided for presentation in place of the image of the active speaker.