Tejasvi Manoj, a 17-year-old Indian-American teen from Frisco, Texas, has been named Time magazine’s 2025 Kid of the Year, in recognition of her work in cybersecurity focused on protecting older adults from online scams. Announced by Time and Time for Kids on September 11, 2025, the honor highlights her creation of Shield Seniors, a platform that helps seniors identify and report suspicious digital communications.
The inspiration for Shield Seniors came in early 2024, when Manoj’s 85-year-old grandfather almost fell victim to an email scam. Determined to address the growing threat of cybercrime targeting older Americans, she launched a beta-version platform that educates seniors, analyzes suspect messages, and provides pathways to report fraud.
By elevating Manoj as Kid of the Year, Time acknowledges not only her technical initiative but also the broader impact of youth-driven solutions to social problems. As online scams increasingly target vulnerable populations, her work reflects a growing movement within American youth toward civic-centered innovation—a reminder of how young voices are influencing public life.
While the Kid of the Year title is not a conventional institutional appointment or award, it is a major national recognition from a highly influential media brand. It carries symbolic weight—especially for South Asian American representation in the tech and civic engagement arenas.
Key Takeaways About Tejasvi Manoj
- Named Time magazine’s 2025 Kid of the Year for cybersecurity work.
- Creator of Shield Seniors, a tool to help older adults avoid online scams.
- Recognition stems from a personal incident involving her grandfather’s attempted scam.
- Represents youth-led, tech-based civic engagement in the U.S.
- Elevates South Asian American visibility in national media focused on innovation and social impact.
