A communication terminal includes circuitry that displays a first image corresponding to a first area of a whole image shared by communication terminals, and stores first terminal information identifying a first one of the communication terminals that causes a second one of the communication terminals to display an image being displayed by the first communication terminal. The circuitry receives second terminal information and viewable area information from a third one of the communication terminals that displays a second image corresponding to a second area of the whole image. The second terminal information identifies the third communication terminal. The viewable area information represents the second area. When the first terminal information and the second terminal information are the same, the circuitry determines whether an operation state of the first image is an operating state, and if so, displays the second image after the operation state shifts to a standby state.