Story perspectives

Teen Named TIME's Kid of Year for Senior Cybercrime Initiative

9/10/2025

Summary

Story summary

Tejasvi Manoj, a 17-year-old Indian-American from Texas, has been named TIME's 2025 Kid of the Year for her initiative, Shield Seniors.
Inspired by a near-scam incident involving her grandfather, she educates seniors about cybercrime.
The FBI reported nearly 860,000 scam complaints in 2024, with seniors losing about $5 billion.
Tejasvi's platform uses AI to analyze suspicious messages and provides resources for reporting scams.
She plans to study Computer Science, focusing on AI or Cybersecurity, and aims to expand Shield Seniors with additional funding.

History

Historical Context

The rise of cybercrime has been alarming, with the Federal Trade Commission reporting over $1.7 billion in consumer losses due to fraud in 2014. In response, Tejasvi Manoj launched Shield Seniors to protect vulnerable populations, particularly the elderly. By 2024, the FBI recorded nearly 860,000 scam complaints, underscoring the urgent need for education and awareness to combat these threats effectively.

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Story summary

Tejasvi Manoj, a 17-year-old Indian-American from Texas, has been named TIME's 2025 Kid of the Year for her initiative, Shield Seniors.
Inspired by a near-scam incident involving her grandfather, she educates seniors about cybercrime.
The FBI reported nearly 860,000 scam complaints in 2024, with seniors losing about $5 billion.
Tejasvi's platform uses AI to analyze suspicious messages and provides resources for reporting scams.
She plans to study Computer Science, focusing on AI or Cybersecurity, and aims to expand Shield Seniors with additional funding.

1 / 2