A method includes, at a media bridge configured to distribute a plurality of media streams among a plurality of client devices connected to the media bridge over a network during a real-time communication (RTC) instance, receiving a plurality of quality of experience (QoE) preferences from the plurality of client devices via the media bridge, the plurality of QoE preferences being transmitted as a real-time transport protocol (RTP) control protocol (RTCP) extension header of a transmitted data packet. The method also includes receiving a plurality of QoE metrics at the media bridge, and in response to a determination that a degradation in network conditions of the network has occurred, downgrading at least one of the plurality of media streams based on the plurality of QoE preferences.