Full Breakdown
Tejasvi Manoj: TIME's 2025 Kid of the Year for Cybercrime Prevention
9/10/2025, 10:40:48 PM
Recognition and Initiative
Tejasvi Manoj, a 17-year-old Indian-American from Frisco, Texas, has been named TIME's 2025 Kid of the Year for her innovative work in combating cybercrime targeting seniors. Her initiative, Shield Seniors, aims to educate older adults about online scams and provide tools to protect themselves. The recognition highlights her commitment to digital literacy and community service, stemming from a personal experience where her grandfather nearly fell victim to a scam.
The Catalyst for Change
The impetus for Tejasvi's project arose in February 2024, during a drive home from a Scouting America camp. Her father received multiple missed calls from his 85-year-old father, who had been contacted by someone impersonating a family member, requesting a $2,000 transfer to settle an urgent debt. Fortunately, her father advised against the transfer, prompting the grandfather to verify the request, which turned out to be fraudulent. This incident revealed to Tejasvi the vulnerability of seniors to cyber scams, motivating her to take action.
Development of Shield Seniors
In response to her findings, Tejasvi dedicated herself to creating Shield Seniors, a platform designed to educate the 60-plus demographic about online threats. The website, currently in private preview mode, offers AI-powered analysis of suspicious emails and messages, guiding users on how to identify scams and report them. Tejasvi emphasizes the need for accessible language in cybersecurity resources, stating, “If you ask ChatGPT or Gemini questions about cybersecurity, they are going to give you...hard-to-understand terminology...that doesn’t work for most older adults.”
Community Engagement and Impact
Tejasvi's efforts extend beyond the digital realm; she actively conducts seminars at assisted-living facilities, teaching seniors how to recognize and avoid scams. Her mother, Aishwarya Manoj, noted the widespread lack of awareness among older adults, which further fueled Tejasvi's determination to make a difference. Tejasvi's work has garnered national attention, including an honorable mention in the 2024 Congressional App Challenge and a TEDx talk in Plano, Texas.
Official Statements and Responses
TIME for Kids Editor-in-Chief Andrea Delbanco remarked on the significance of the Kid of the Year award, stating, “We're giving kids a platform, and watching them use it to inspire other young people to follow in their footsteps.” Tejasvi herself expressed her motivation, saying, “If you’re lucky yourself, you want to make sure other people feel loved and lucky too. It just makes me feel really happy, knowing that I can make a difference.”
Criticism and Opposition
While Tejasvi's initiative has received widespread praise, some critics argue that the reliance on technology may not fully address the emotional and psychological aspects of being scammed. They suggest that more comprehensive support systems are needed to help victims process their experiences and recover from the impact of fraud.
Verbatim Quotes
- “A lot of people are embarrassed that they got scammed, but this isn’t something you should be embarrassed about.” — Tejasvi Manoj
- “Tejasvi was surprised that there was such a lack of awareness among her grandparents,” — Aishwarya Manoj, Mother
- “What if no one shows up? What if I totally mess up? There were so many people who were really interested—taking notes on their notepads, which was really nice. At the end, some of them came up to me with questions, and I was able to help them.” — Tejasvi Manoj
Tejasvi Manoj's work with Shield Seniors exemplifies how young individuals can leverage technology and community engagement to address pressing societal issues, particularly in protecting vulnerable populations from cyber threats.
