In a remarkable achievement that’s inspiring young innovators everywhere, 17-year-old Frisco teen Tejasvi Manoj has been named the 2025 TIME Kid of the Year, celebrating her relentless efforts to protect seniors from the growing threat of online scams.
Shielding Seniors from Online Scams
Tejasvi, a senior at Lebanon Trail High School, founded Shield Seniors, a unique website that helps older adults identify and report fraudulent emails and text messages. The platform allows users to upload suspicious messages for real-time analysis and provides direct links to report cyber fraud.
The idea was born in February 2024 after Tejasvi’s 85-year-old grandfather nearly fell prey to an email spoofing scam requesting $2,000. Shocked by the incident and driven to act, she researched cybercrime and learned that scams targeting seniors accounted for nearly $5 billion in losses in 2024, according to FBI data cited by TIME.
“This is supposed to bring people a sense of ‘You’re not alone,’” Manoj told TIME. “A lot of people are embarrassed that they got scammed, but this isn’t something you should be embarrassed about.”
From Coding Prodigy to National Inspiration
Tejasvi’s coding journey began in eighth grade and flourished through cybersecurity classes, Girls Who Code programs, and the Cyber-Patriot initiative. Her participation in the 2024 Mark Cuban AI Bootcamp enhanced her skills in Java, Python, and HTML—skills critical in building Shield Seniors.
Beyond her technical brilliance, Tejasvi is an Eagle Scout, accomplished violinist, and active volunteer, serving with the North Texas Food Bank Young Advocates Council, tutoring Bhutanese refugees, and packing meals for TangoTab.
Recognition and Praise
Her innovation has already earned an honorable mention in the 2024 Congressional App Challenge, a TEDx talk in Plano, and numerous local seminars where she teaches seniors how to spot scams.
Leaders and mentors across Texas are celebrating her win. Texas Governor Greg Abbott lauded her “grit, innovation, and service,” while Tiffani Martin, founder of VisioTech, praised her leadership:
“Honestly, I wouldn’t mind working for her one day and having her as my boss because that’s exactly the kind of leader she already is.”
A Trailblazer for Texas Youth
Tejasvi is the first North Texas student to win the TIME Kid of the Year title since Mansfield’s Orion Jean in 2021 and the first honoree to also be named a TIME for Kids Service Star, underscoring her broader community impact.
The Bigger Picture: Protecting Seniors Nationwide
According to cybersecurity experts, scams targeting older adults continue to surge. Shield Seniors is poised to become a national model for digital safety education, bridging the knowledge gap for the country’s most vulnerable internet users. Tejasvi plans to expand the site’s functionality, including AI-driven fraud detection and multilingual support, once funding is secured.
