Tejaswi Manoj, 16, from the United States, has been named TIME’s “Kid of the Year” for 2025 for creating Shield Seniors, a project that helps seniors recognize and prevent online scams, according to TIME magazine.
The idea came about after her 85-year-old grandfather nearly fell for a $2,000 scam by posing as a relative asking for a loan. Tejaswi was struck by how vulnerable seniors are to such attacks.
According to the FBI, in 2024, cybercriminals caused more than $16 billion in losses, almost $5 billion of which was incurred by victims over 60. The number of cases of seniors losing over $10,000 has quadrupled in recent years.
Tejaswi developed the Shield Seniors website, which includes four sections: cybersecurity basics training, a chatbot for simple answers to questions, an AI-powered tool for analyzing suspicious messages (with 95% accuracy), and links to official resources for filing complaints.
The website was created with the needs of senior users in mind, featuring large fonts, easy navigation, and a calm color scheme. It is currently operating in private mode and awaiting funding to launch online.
Besides the project, Tejaswi is an active volunteer. She helps at a food bank, teaches Bhutanese refugees, plays in a school orchestra, and recently became a Cub Scout.
“It’s important for seniors to feel confident online and know they’re not alone,” says Tejaswi.
