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Read the press release here.

Facebook to Make Manhattan Announcement as YouTube Unveils Redesign

By Patrick Hedlund | December 2, 2011 12:55pm
Facebook is set to make a major announcement on Fri., Dec. 2, 2011.
Facebook is set to make a major announcement on Fri., Dec. 2, 2011.
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Photo Illustration by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

MANHATTAN — Facebook is not easing off its privacy settings regarding a planned announcement Friday afternoon.

The social-networking giant is planning to dish major news at its Madison Avenue offices Friday, but the California-based tech colossus isn’t revealing what it will discuss ahead of the 2 p.m. press event.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg and U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer plan to join Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg for the announcement, at 335 Madison Ave., between 43rd and 44th streets.

Reports speculated that the event is being held to discuss the company’s New York expansion and possible job creation as a result.

The news comes a day after YouTube launched a full-scale redesign of its hugely popular video website, including the addition of new channels that will allow it to compete with more traditional media.

The redesign also includes an overhauled home page, with users able to customize their favorite channels, as well as a revamped color and layout scheme.

“We’ve used your feedback to improve our overall design, and today, we’re presenting a cleaner and simpler YouTube, with a consistent gray background, bigger video thumbnails and a more streamlined watch page,” read a blog post from Google, which owns YouTube.

This comes during a busy week for social-media startups in New York, after streaming-music provider Spotify announced plans Wednesday to roll out apps allowing users to integrate their music listening experience with other publications and online services.