Olivia Evans was just 15-years-old when she took her own life... her heartbroken father has revealed the tragic Google searches she made in her final days
- Liv Evans took her own life in April last year
- Her father revealed her disturbing online searches
- READ MORE: Aussie swimmer qualifies for Paris Olympics after secret battle with eating disorder
A teenage girl battling anorexia was Googling how few calories she could eat a day to live off before tragically taking her own life.
Victorian father Robb Evans said his daughter Liv's battle with her eating disorder was sparked by schoolyard bullies and fuelled by social media before her death in April last year.
'The claws were in so deeply she couldn't see a place to recover,' he said of his 15-year-old, clutching her urn under his right arm.
While he still searches for clarity on what his daughter was exposed to, the posts she was comfortable showing him included advice on masking illness with water and clothing.
'It got more sinister in how few calories could you consume in a day to live,' he said.
'She was searching for this content and then being presented with more and more of it.'
Through his grief, Mr Evans has thrown his energy behind a campaign to force teenagers under the age of 16 off social media.
Mr Evans earlier told Channel Nine's 60 Minutes that social media giant Instagram preyed on his daughter 'whether intentional or not'.
Victorian father Robb Evans is speaking out following the death of his daughter Liv in April last year
'People that are saying, ''I'm healthy and I live off 200 calories a day'',' Mr Evans told the program
'I said, ''Liv, they're lying''.
'I said, ''you have to understand that these people might be saying they're healthy'' but I said ''you cannot survive on 200 calories a day and this is the reason why''.'
Meta and TikTok allow children as young as 13 onto their platforms, though each cannot easily verify ages.
The 36 Months campaign co-led by media personality Michael 'Wippa' Wipfli has also won support from comedian Hamish Blake, Hollywood actor Tahyna MacManus, business, academics and parents.
A petition signed by 110,000 people was presented to NSW parliament on Wednesday.
Even without platforms implementing a 'very simple' technical method to verify age, enacting a legal minimum would empower young teens to stay away and parents to enforce bans, supporters say.
Liv Evans was exposed to disturbing information on social media platforms during her battle with an eating disorder
Wipfli denied mounting an attack on social media, saying Australia needed to acknowledge young children were more vulnerable to doom-scrolling and other key features of Instagram and TikTok.
'We need it (change) now - there are kids on the edge so we don't have time to waste,' Wipfli said.
Eating disorder experts say teenagers need more time to develop without the influence of social media and want a ban for under-16s among other changes.
'The teenage years are the most prevalent age of onset for an eating disorder in Australia,' the Australia and New Zealand Academy for Eating Disorders told a federal inquiry.
'Due to the loop of content reinforcing appearance ideals, control of eating etc. the algorithm can reinforce challenges related to the development of an eating disorder and treatment seeking and recovery.'
Instagram's parent company says it has spent more than US$5billion ($A7.5 billion) on safety and security in the past year alone.
Teens who search for content related to eating disorders or body image issues now see a pop-up with tips and an easy way to connect with support organisations such as the Butterfly Foundation.
'We have developed - and continue to review and update - our approach to eating disorder content in consultation with experts around the world,' Meta has told a federal social media inquiry.
Mr Evans said quiet kids like his daughter needed to be protected
Age verification for the online purchase of alcohol has been trialled in NSW, with that state government flagging that it could inform similar pilots for social media.
A state-run summit in October is hoped to generate innovative solutions to the challenges of social media.
Mr Evans said quiet kids like his daughter needed to be protected.
'She was so loving and kind, very creative, loved animals and never had a bad word to say about anyone,' he said.
'I obviously miss her every day.'
This global crisis has triggered politicians in Florida, in the US, to call for a ban on teenagers having access to social media for children under 14, while 15 and 16 year olds will need parental consent.
Texas has also recently legislated parental consent will be required before a user under the age of 18 can open an account.
Communications minister Michelle Rowland says the Australian government will be closely monitoring how these bans work and whether its effective.
It comes after South Australia also moved to ban social media for children under the age of 14.
The state government has appointed former High Court chief justice Robert French to conduct a legal examination into banning accounts for children.
Mr French will examine what regulatory and technological 'pathways' the government might pursue to institute its prohibition.
The government's policy would also require parental consent for children aged 14 and 15.
Meanwhile in NSW, Premier Premier Chris Minns said a summit will be held in October 'to address the increasing harm online platforms are having on children and young people'.
Environment minister Tanya Plibersek said the government was taking kid's mental health seriously.
Lifeline 13 11 14
Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800 (for people aged 5 to 25)
Butterfly Foundation 1800 334 673
