diff --git a/src/components/post_status_form/post_status_form.js b/src/components/post_status_form/post_status_form.js
index 0c77199b..81c94969 100644
--- a/src/components/post_status_form/post_status_form.js
+++ b/src/components/post_status_form/post_status_form.js
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ import fileTypeService from '../../services/file_type/file_type.service.js'
 import { findOffset } from '../../services/offset_finder/offset_finder.service.js'
 import { reject, map, uniqBy, debounce } from 'lodash'
 import { usePostLanguageOptions } from 'src/lib/post_language'
+import scopeUtils from 'src/lib/scope_utils.js'
 import suggestor from '../emoji_input/suggestor.js'
 import { mapGetters, mapState } from 'vuex'
 import Checkbox from '../checkbox/checkbox.vue'
@@ -762,15 +763,9 @@ const PostStatusForm = {
       this.$store.dispatch('openSettingsModalTab', 'profile')
     },
     suggestedVisibility () {
-      if (this.copyMessageScope) {
-        if (this.copyMessageScope === 'direct') {
-          return this.copyMessageScope
-        }
-        if (this.copyMessageScope !== 'public' && this.$store.state.users.currentUser.default_scope !== 'private') {
-          return this.copyMessageScope
-        }
-      }
-      return this.$store.state.users.currentUser.default_scope
+      const maxScope = this.copyMessageScope
+      const defaultScope = this.$store.state.users.currentUser.default_scope
+      return scopeUtils.negotiate(defaultScope, maxScope)
     }
   }
 }
diff --git a/src/components/scope_selector/scope_selector.js b/src/components/scope_selector/scope_selector.js
index 8ec7d332..4069a2d0 100644
--- a/src/components/scope_selector/scope_selector.js
+++ b/src/components/scope_selector/scope_selector.js
@@ -6,6 +6,8 @@ import {
   faGlobe
 } from '@fortawesome/free-solid-svg-icons'
 
+import scopeUtils from 'src/lib/scope_utils.js'
+
 library.add(
   faEnvelope,
   faGlobe,
@@ -13,25 +15,18 @@ library.add(
   faLockOpen
 )
 
-const SCOPE_LEVELS = {
-  'direct': 0,
-  'private': 1,
-  'local': 2,
-  'unlisted': 2,
-  'public': 3
-}
-
 const ScopeSelector = {
   props: [
     'showAll',
     'userDefault',
+    // scope of parent object
     'originalScope',
     'initialScope',
     'onScopeChange'
   ],
   data () {
     return {
-      currentScope: this.initialScope
+      currentScope: this.initialscope;
     }
   },
   computed: {
@@ -39,16 +34,16 @@ const ScopeSelector = {
       return !this.showPublic && !this.showUnlisted && !this.showPrivate && !this.showDirect
     },
     showPublic () {
-      return this.originalScope !== 'direct' && this.shouldShow('public')
+      return this.shouldShow('public')
     },
     showLocal () {
-      return this.originalScope !== 'direct' && this.shouldShow('local')
+      return this.shouldShow('local')
     },
     showUnlisted () {
-      return this.originalScope !== 'direct' && this.shouldShow('unlisted')
+      return this.shouldShow('unlisted')
     },
     showPrivate () {
-      return this.originalScope !== 'direct' && this.shouldShow('private')
+      return this.shouldShow('private')
     },
     showDirect () {
       return this.shouldShow('direct')
@@ -65,15 +60,10 @@ const ScopeSelector = {
   },
   methods: {
     shouldShow (scope) {
-      if (!this.originalScope) {
+      if (!this.originalScope)
         return true
-      }
-
-      if (this.originalScope === 'local') {
-        return scope === 'direct' || scope === 'local'
-      }
-
-      return SCOPE_LEVELS[scope] <= SCOPE_LEVELS[this.originalScope]
+      else
+        return scopeUtils.compare(scope, this.originalScope) <= 0
     },
     changeVis (scope) {
       this.currentScope = scope
diff --git a/src/lib/scope_utils.js b/src/lib/scope_utils.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..22142b5a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/lib/scope_utils.js
@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+const SCOPE_LEVELS = {
+  'direct': 0,
+  'private': 1,
+  'unlisted': 2,
+  'local': 3,
+  'public': 3
+}
+
+export default {
+  negotiate: (defaultScope, maxScope) => {
+    if (!maxScope)
+      return defaultScope;
+
+    if (maxScope === 'local')
+      return defaultScope === 'direct' ? defaultScope : 'local';
+
+    if (SCOPE_LEVELS[defaultScope] <= SCOPE_LEVELS[maxScope])
+      return defaultScope;
+    else
+      return maxScope;
+  },
+  compare: (sa, sb) => {
+    if (sa === 'local') {
+      if (sb === 'direct')
+        return 1;
+      else if (sb === sa)
+        return 0;
+      else
+       return -1;
+    }
+
+    if (sa === sb)
+      return 0;
+
+    return SCOPE_LEVELS[sa] < SCOPE_LEVELS[sb] ? -1 : 1;
+  }
+}