Seventeen-year-old Indian-American Tejasvi Manoj has been named TIME magazine’s Kid of the Year 2025 for her pioneering work in shielding senior citizens from online fraud.
Her project, Shield Seniors, is already being hailed as a model for using technology to protect vulnerable communities.
Born in California to Indian immigrant parents from Kerala and raised in Dallas, Tejasvi was drawn to the issue after a close call in her own family. A scammer once tried to dupe her grandfather by impersonating a relative in distress.
“I was shocked that my grandparents didn’t recognize it as a scam,” Tejasvi recalled. “When I researched, I realised it wasn’t just them – this was happening everywhere.”
That discovery launched her mission. According to Federal Bureau of Investigation data, scams cost Americans over US$16 billion (S$20 billion) in 2024, with those aged above 60 losing nearly US$5 billion – a staggering 32 per cent rise from the previous year.
Launched in 2023, Shield Seniors is a website and platform that combines AI-powered tools with plain-language education. Seniors can upload suspicious messages for analysis, receive clear explanations of potential fraud, and access links to official reporting portals.
A chatbot answers common questions, designed with accessibility in mind for less tech-savvy users.
But Tejasvi didn’t stop at technology. She conducts seminars at assisted-living facilities, where she patiently teaches seniors how to spot scams.
“I was so nervous before my first session,” she admitted. “But the turnout was incredible – people taking notes, asking questions. Seeing their confidence grow made me realise I was on the right path.”
Her initiative has already earned national recognition. She received an honourable mention in the 2024 Congressional App Challenge, gave a TEDx talk in Plano, Texas, and became the first Kid of the Year to also be recognised as a TIME for Kids Service Star.
For TIME, the choice was clear. “Older Americans clearly need protection, and Tejasvi was determined to provide it,” the magazine wrote.
Outside her scam-busting mission, Tejasvi is a high achiever. She’s an Eagle Scout, plays violin in her school orchestra, and tutors Bhutanese refugees online in maths and English through the non-profit Vibha.
She also volunteers with the North Texas Food Bank Young Advocates Council, reflecting her belief in giving back.
“I started volunteering in sixth grade,” she said. “If you’re lucky, you should make sure others feel lucky too.”
Currently, Shield Seniors operates in private preview mode, limited by the scale of its free AI engine.
Tejasvi is fundraising to transition the project onto a more powerful platform, which would allow it to serve a wider audience. “We plan to open it more broadly once we secure funding,” she said.
Tejasvi hopes to study computer science with a focus on AI or cybersecurity – fields she believes can be harnessed to protect communities.
Her message is simple but urgent: “Check in on your loved ones. Make sure they’re safe online.”
