Seventeen-year-old Tejasvi Manoj, an Indian-American from Frisco, Texas, has been named TIME magazine’s ‘Kid of the Year’ for 2025 for her groundbreaking initiative ‘Shield Seniors’, a platform designed to help older adults recognise and report online scams.
TIME noted that “older Americans clearly need protection, and Tejasvi was determined to provide it,” praising her commitment to building digital safety for seniors. She also became the first honouree to simultaneously earn a TIME for Kids Service Star, a recognition of young changemakers making a social impact.
‘Shield Seniors’ is currently in a private preview stage, using a free AI engine to scan and analyse suspicious messages uploaded by users. If identified as fraudulent, the system provides links to report scams and offers educational resources to guide seniors. Manoj is now fundraising to expand the platform and transition to a commercial AI model, which will allow wider access.
In an interview, she emphasised the importance of family involvement, saying: “Just make sure to check up on your loved ones. Make sure that they’re staying safe online.”
Manoj began coding in eighth grade and has already earned recognition, including an honourable mention in the 2024 Congressional App Challenge and delivering a 2025 TEDx talk in Plano, Texas on bridging digital gaps across generations. Beyond technology, she is active in Scouting America, plays violin in her school orchestra, tutors Bhutanese refugees in math and English through the nonprofit Vibha, and serves on the North Texas Food Bank Young Advocates Council.
Looking ahead, she plans to major in computer science with a minor in AI or cybersecurity, continuing her advocacy for senior citizens to be “savvy and independent” online.
TIME previously named Indian-American scientist Gitanjali Rao as its inaugural ‘Kid of the Year’ in 2020 for her pioneering work in tackling water contamination, opioid misuse, and cyberbullying.
