The technology disclosed herein enables remote control of an endpoint via a media channel of a real-time telecommunication session in a manner that can use standard media encoding and transmission methods. In a particular embodiment, a method includes, in a first endpoint operated by a first user, receiving text from a second endpoint over a text channel of a real-time communication session established between the first endpoint and the second endpoint. The text channel enables exchanging text-based user communications between the first endpoint and the second endpoint during the communication session. The method includes determining that a text transmission from the second endpoint includes a control instruction for the first endpoint and complying with the control instruction.