India Tribune Newsdesk
Dallas, Texas: Seventeen-year-old Tejasvi Manoj, raised in Dallas, Texas since the age of eight, has been named TIME’s Kid of the Year 2025 for her groundbreaking work in making the internet safer for senior citizens. The recognition comes after she developed Shield Seniors, a digital platform aimed at protecting older adults from online scams and educating them on safe digital practices.
Her journey began in early 2024 when her grandfather nearly became the victim of an online scam. Fraudsters, pretending to be a family member, urgently demanded money. Shocked by how close he came to losing his savings, Tejasvi realized that her grandparents—and many older adults—lacked awareness of the tricks cybercriminals use. That moment was a turning point. Determined to act, she began researching online fraud and was stunned to discover the scale of the problem. According to the FBI, cybercrimes against seniors accounted for nearly $5 billion in losses in 2024 alone, a steep rise from previous years.
Fueled by her love for coding, which she discovered in middle school through Girls Who Code, Tejasvi created Shield Seniors. The platform simplifies digital safety with easy-to-understand tools designed specifically for older adults. It offers four core features: a Learn section with clear, jargon-free guides; an Ask chatbot for quick answers; an Analyze tool to flag suspicious emails or messages; and a Help hub with step-by-step instructions. Her design choices—large buttons, simplified instructions, and user-friendly navigation—were shaped by real conversations with senior citizens in her community.
Her mission goes beyond technology. Tejasvi regularly organizes workshops and seminars at local senior centers, patiently walking older adults through the basics of online safety. She recalls being nervous before her first seminar, only to be encouraged by the enthusiasm of attendees diligently taking notes and asking questions. Those moments, she says, confirmed that her work was making a real difference.
Recognition soon followed. Tejasvi received an honorable mention in the 2024 Congressional App Challenge, delivered a TEDx talk in Plano on building digital bridges, and became the first TIME Kid of the Year to also be named a TIME for Kids Service Star. These honors reflect not only her technical skills but also her ability to inspire and empower others.
For Tejasvi, Shield Seniors is deeply personal. Her grandfather, whose close brush with fraud sparked her mission, passed away in January 2025. She considers the project a tribute to him and a promise to protect others like him. “Grandparents once held our hands to teach us how to walk. Now it’s our turn to guide them through the digital world,” she says.
Looking ahead, Tejasvi hopes to study computer science with a focus on artificial intelligence or cybersecurity, expanding her work to reach senior citizens worldwide. Beyond coding, she tutors refugees, volunteers in her community, and plays violin in her school orchestra. Her story is a testament to how one determined teenager can use technology to protect the dignity and independence of an entire generation.
(Compiled from agencies report)
