Meet Tejasvi Manoj, 17-year-old Indian-origin named as TIME’s Kid of the Year
First Indian-origin Kid of the YearTejasvi Manoj, a 17-year-old Indian-American from Texas’ Frisco, is TIME’s 2025 Kid of the Year for her innovative work in cybersecurity for seniors.
Digital defender awardeeTIME magazine has honoured her as a “digital defender,” recognising her leadership in teaching digital literacy and protecting seniors from cybercrime.
Shield SeniorsShe built “Shield Seniors,” a website and emerging mobile app that educates older adults on identifying scams, analyses suspicious messages, and connects them with reporting tools.
Sparked by a family incidentHer mission began when cybercriminals nearly scammed her 85-year-old grandfather in early 2024, igniting her determination to close the digital safety gap.
Timeline of innovationWithin a year of the incident, she launched her platform to address senior cybersecurity awareness, demonstrating fast action and technological acumen.
Congressional honouree and TEDx speakerShe earned an honourable mention in the 2024 Congressional App Challenge and delivered a TEDx talk in Plano, Texas, about “digital bridges” for all demographics.
First TIME for kids service starTejasvi is the very first Kid of the Year to also be a TIME for Kids Service Star, highlighting her impactful youth-led service.
Picture courtesy: The Global Indian
Tech-driven with support networkRaised by software-engineer parents, she taught herself coding, leveraging YouTube, mentorship, and family guidance to bring her vision to life.
Studying for the futureShe plans to major in computer science with a focus on AI or cybersecurity to continue her mission to protect vulnerable communities online.