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
@@ -601,7 +601,7 @@
   +pendingPersonalThreadUserInfo: UserInfo,
 };
 
-function createPendingPersonalThread(
+function createPendingPersonalOrPrivateThread(
   loggedInUserInfo: LoggedInUserInfo,
   userID: string,
   username: ?string,
@@ -612,14 +612,23 @@
     username: username,
   };
 
-  const threadType = supportThickThreads
-    ? threadTypes.PERSONAL
-    : threadTypes.GENESIS_PERSONAL;
+  const members: Array<UserIDAndUsername> = [loggedInUserInfo];
+  let threadType;
+  if (loggedInUserInfo.id === userID) {
+    threadType = supportThickThreads
+      ? threadTypes.PRIVATE
+      : threadTypes.GENESIS_PRIVATE;
+  } else {
+    threadType = supportThickThreads
+      ? threadTypes.PERSONAL
+      : threadTypes.GENESIS_PERSONAL;
+    members.push(pendingPersonalThreadUserInfo);
+  }
 
   const threadInfo = createPendingThread({
     viewerID: loggedInUserInfo.id,
     threadType,
-    members: [loggedInUserInfo, pendingPersonalThreadUserInfo],
+    members,
   });
 
   return { threadInfo, pendingPersonalThreadUserInfo };
@@ -631,7 +640,7 @@
   supportThickThreads: boolean,
 ): ChatThreadItem {
   const { threadInfo, pendingPersonalThreadUserInfo } =
-    createPendingPersonalThread(
+    createPendingPersonalOrPrivateThread(
       loggedInUserInfo,
       user.id,
       user.username,
@@ -1747,7 +1756,7 @@
       return personalThreadInfo ? { threadInfo: personalThreadInfo } : null;
     }
 
-    const pendingPersonalThreadInfo = createPendingPersonalThread(
+    const pendingPersonalThreadInfo = createPendingPersonalOrPrivateThread(
       loggedInUserInfo,
       userID,
       username,