Texas based Tejasvi Manoj Wins TIME’s 2025 Kid of the Year for Shield Seniors: In a digital era where scams cost Americans $16 billion in 2024 alone, TIME magazine’s choice of Tejasvi Manoj as Kid of the Year 2025 sends a powerful message: innovation rooted in compassion matters.
Her project, Shield Seniors, directly tackles the fastest-growing target of cybercrime—older Americans. With losses reaching $5 billion last year, seniors need tools that are both accessible and effective. Manoj’s AI-driven platform offers exactly that, boasting 95% accuracy in detecting scams and easy-to-use guides for reporting fraud.
What makes Manoj’s recognition especially meaningful is her motivation. After her grandfather nearly fell victim to a scam, she chose to act—not just for him but for millions like him. In doing so, she exemplifies how youth-led innovation can safeguard an aging society.
She earned an honorable mention in the 2024 Congressional App Challenge, delivered a TEDx talk in Plano, and now regularly conducts cybersecurity workshops at assisted-living facilities.
Beyond her tech innovation, Manoj embodies community leadership. She is an Eagle Scout, tutors Bhutanese refugees through the nonprofit Vibha. She plays violin in her school orchestra, and serves on the North Texas Food Bank Young Advocates Council.
As online scams continue to escalate in scale and sophistication, Shield Seniors demonstrates how technology fused with empathy can make a lasting difference. “My goal,” Manoj says, “is to give seniors the confidence to navigate the digital world safely.”
TIME’s decision underscores that leadership is no longer defined by age, but by impact. If America is to fight cybercrime, it needs more changemakers like Manoj—young people who see problems as opportunities to protect, educate, and empower.
