diff --git a/src/settings/settings.ts b/src/settings/settings.ts
index 307a557e..4ccc78b8 100644
--- a/src/settings/settings.ts
+++ b/src/settings/settings.ts
@@ -88,3 +88,5 @@ export const videoInput = new Setting<string | undefined>(
   "video-input",
   undefined,
 );
+
+export const alwaysShowSelf = new Setting<boolean>("always-show-self", true);
diff --git a/src/state/MediaViewModel.ts b/src/state/MediaViewModel.ts
index 7f7307f4..c61b5255 100644
--- a/src/state/MediaViewModel.ts
+++ b/src/state/MediaViewModel.ts
@@ -49,6 +49,7 @@ import { useEffect } from "react";
 
 import { ViewModel } from "./ViewModel";
 import { useReactiveState } from "../useReactiveState";
+import { alwaysShowSelf } from "../settings/settings";
 
 export interface NameData {
   /**
@@ -237,6 +238,13 @@ export class LocalUserMediaViewModel extends BaseUserMediaViewModel {
     ),
   );
 
+  /**
+   * Whether to show this tile in a highly visible location near the start of
+   * the grid.
+   */
+  public readonly alwaysShow = alwaysShowSelf.value;
+  public readonly setAlwaysShow = alwaysShowSelf.setValue;
+
   public constructor(
     id: string,
     member: RoomMember | undefined,