diff --git a/web/chat/chat-thread-composer.react.js b/web/chat/chat-thread-composer.react.js
--- a/web/chat/chat-thread-composer.react.js
+++ b/web/chat/chat-thread-composer.react.js
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@
   const pendingPrivateThread = React.useRef(
     createPendingThread({
       viewerID,
-      threadType: threadTypes.GENESIS_PRIVATE,
+      threadType: threadTypes.PRIVATE,
       members: [loggedInUserInfo],
     }),
   );
diff --git a/web/utils/thread-utils.js b/web/utils/thread-utils.js
--- a/web/utils/thread-utils.js
+++ b/web/utils/thread-utils.js
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@
   const pendingPrivateThread = React.useRef(
     createPendingThread({
       viewerID: loggedInUserInfo.id,
-      threadType: threadTypes.GENESIS_PRIVATE,
+      threadType: threadTypes.PRIVATE,
       members: [loggedInUserInfo],
     }),
   );