A virtual online meeting room is provided. An external message is received by an originator user from an outside source. The external message is displayed to an originator user and is prevented from being displayed to remainder users. The originator user is permitted to designate at least a portion of the external message as shared. At least one of the remainder users is permitted to have at least the portion of the external message displayed to them responsive to the at least the portion of the external message being designated as shared.