diff --git a/lib/shared/thread-utils.js b/lib/shared/thread-utils.js
--- a/lib/shared/thread-utils.js
+++ b/lib/shared/thread-utils.js
@@ -609,14 +609,16 @@
   } else if (numberOfOtherMembers === 1) {
     return threadTypes.GENESIS_PERSONAL;
   } else {
-    return threadTypes.LOCAL;
+    // TODO flip back to threadTypes.LOCAL in ENG-8442
+    return threadTypes.COMMUNITY_SECRET_SUBTHREAD;
   }
 }
 
 function threadTypeCanBePending(threadType: ThreadType): boolean {
   return (
     threadType === threadTypes.GENESIS_PERSONAL ||
-    threadType === threadTypes.LOCAL ||
+    // TODO flip back to threadTypes.LOCAL in ENG-8442
+    threadType === threadTypes.COMMUNITY_SECRET_SUBTHREAD ||
     threadType === threadTypes.SIDEBAR ||
     threadType === threadTypes.GENESIS_PRIVATE
   );