diff --git a/lib/shared/dm-ops/create-sidebar-spec.js b/lib/shared/dm-ops/create-sidebar-spec.js
--- a/lib/shared/dm-ops/create-sidebar-spec.js
+++ b/lib/shared/dm-ops/create-sidebar-spec.js
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@
           parentThreadID,
           allMemberIDs,
           roleID,
-          creatorID,
+          unread: creatorID !== viewerID,
           sourceMessageID,
           containingThreadID: parentThreadID,
         },
diff --git a/lib/shared/dm-ops/create-thread-spec.js b/lib/shared/dm-ops/create-thread-spec.js
--- a/lib/shared/dm-ops/create-thread-spec.js
+++ b/lib/shared/dm-ops/create-thread-spec.js
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@
     parentThreadID,
     allMemberIDs,
     roleID,
-    creatorID,
+    unread,
     name,
     avatar,
     description,
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@
       role: role.id,
       permissions: membershipPermissions,
       subscription: joinThreadSubscription,
-      unread: creatorID !== viewerID,
+      unread,
     }),
     repliesCount: repliesCount ?? 0,
     name,
@@ -171,7 +171,7 @@
           creationTime: time,
           allMemberIDs,
           roleID,
-          creatorID,
+          unread: creatorID !== viewerID,
         },
         viewerID,
       );
diff --git a/lib/types/dm-ops.js b/lib/types/dm-ops.js
--- a/lib/types/dm-ops.js
+++ b/lib/types/dm-ops.js
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@
   +parentThreadID?: ?string,
   +allMemberIDs: $ReadOnlyArray<string>,
   +roleID: string,
-  +creatorID: string,
+  +unread: boolean,
   +name?: ?string,
   +avatar?: ?ClientAvatar,
   +description?: ?string,
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@
     parentThreadID: t.maybe(t.String),
     allMemberIDs: t.list(tUserID),
     roleID: t.String,
-    creatorID: tUserID,
+    unread: t.Boolean,
     name: t.maybe(t.String),
     avatar: t.maybe(clientAvatarValidator),
     description: t.maybe(t.String),