Kuala lumpur: The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries will coordinate several joint measures to strengthen efforts in addressing social media challenges after the 47th ASEAN Summit, scheduled to take place from October 26 to 28, Malaysian National News Agency (BERNAMA) reported on Saturday. According to Emirates News Agency, Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil stated that the coordination would be executed through the Kuala Lumpur Declaration on more responsible use of social media. This declaration is expected to be one of the key documents adopted at the summit. Fadzil highlighted that the adoption of this declaration stems from discussions held among Ministers Responsible for Information last May in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei. During these discussions, most communications ministers from the ASEAN region agreed on the necessity of a joint strategy and collective actions to address current challenges related to social media issues. Fadzil emphasized the importance of unity in creatin g similar or identical legislation and taking immediate action to tackle these challenges. He noted that while ASEAN countries vary in terms of size and role, including some being regional operating centers for social media giants like Meta and TikTok, all countries face similar online safety issues. Despite these differences, there is a shared impact when addressing problems such as scams and online gambling. Fadzil expressed optimism that following the 47th ASEAN Summit, ASEAN ministers responsible for the information portfolio would coordinate efforts to address social media challenges effectively.