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In a world where digital threats are evolving at lightning speed, seniors remain some of the most vulnerable targets. For 16-year-old Tejasvi Manoj from Frisco, Texas, this reality hit close to home. In February 2024, while returning from Scouting America camp with her father, Tejasvi discovered that her 85-year-old grandfather had nearly fallen for an urgent email scam requesting \$2,000. Her father’s timely intervention and a quick verification call revealed the fraud, sparking Tejasvi’s mission to protect older adults from cybercrime. From that moment, she began researching digital threats aimed at seniors and ultimately founded Shield Seniors, a platform dedicated to educating and safeguarding the elderly online.
Who is Tejasvi Manoj: Time’s Kid of the Year and Cybersecurity Visionary
Tejasvi is more than a tech prodigy; she is a high school student, accomplished coder, and founder of Shield Seniors. Her platform bridges the gap between technology and the older generation, offering practical solutions to prevent online fraud. Beyond coding, Tejasvi’s community involvement is extraordinary. She is an Eagle Scout, volunteers with the North Texas Food Bank Young Advocates Council, tutors Bhutanese refugees, and performs in her school orchestra.
Her parents, both IT professionals, nurtured her passion for technology from a young age. By eighth grade, Tejasvi was fluent in Java, Python, and HTML and actively engaged in initiatives like Girls Who Code and Cyber-Patriot. These experiences gave her the skills and confidence to tackle a pressing societal problem with tech-driven solutions.
The Growing Threat of Cybercrime Against Seniors
Seniors are prime targets for cybercriminals. According to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center, nearly 860,000 online scam reports were filed in 2024, totaling over \$16 billion in potential losses. Fraud targeting individuals over 60 alone amounted to \$5 billion, a 32% increase from the previous year.
The Federal Trade Commission highlights that losses exceeding \$10,000 among older adults quadrupled from 2020 to 2024, while losses over \$100,000 increased sevenfold. These alarming trends underscore the urgent need for solutions to protect retirees, pensioners, and seniors from online financial exploitation.
Cybersecurity Tools Designed for Seniors
Inspired by her grandfather’s near-loss, Tejasvi developed Shield Seniors, a platform focused on empowering older adults with knowledge and practical tools to navigate the digital landscape safely. The platform is divided into four core sections:
Learn – Simplified guides on internet safety, including password creation, privacy settings, and spotting scams such as fake charities or urgent payment requests.
Ask – A friendly chatbot provides clear, two-sentence answers to cybersecurity questions, avoiding technical jargon.
Analyse – Users can upload suspicious emails or messages. An AI system evaluates them with 95% accuracy, explaining why a message could be dangerous.
Report – Connects users to agencies like the FBI, AARP, SEC, and CFPB, enabling action against fraudsters.
The platform emphasizes independence, helping seniors confidently navigate the internet without always relying on family members.
Tejasvi’s National Recognition
While balancing school, Scouting, orchestra, and community service, Tejasvi also dedicated herself to building Shield Seniors. Her achievements include an honorable mention in the 2024 Congressional App Challenge, a TEDx talk in 2025 about bridging digital divides, and recognition as TIME Magazine’s Kid of the Year 2025. She also earned TIME for Kids Service Star, highlighting her impact on society.
What Undercode Say: Tejasvi’s Vision and the Broader Impact
Tejasvi’s story is not just about technology—it’s about social responsibility and proactive problem-solving. By addressing cybersecurity risks for seniors, she tackles a critical issue often overlooked in tech education. Her approach combines AI, hands-on workshops, and community engagement, ensuring seniors are not just informed but empowered.
The reliance on mentorship has been key to her success. Her parents and mentor Aarathi Rajamanickam guided her through the technical complexities of AI and cybersecurity. Programs like Girls Who Code provided a foundation, helping her turn skills into meaningful societal contributions.
Shield Seniors’ current private-preview model, using a free AI engine, limits reach. Transitioning to a commercial AI platform will allow Tejasvi to expand nationwide, bringing workshops to assisted-living facilities and offering practical cybersecurity experience. This proactive, hands-on model addresses a gap that purely digital solutions often miss.
Her vision also highlights intergenerational collaboration. While seniors gain confidence in technology, families learn how to support their loved ones, fostering safer digital environments. The long-term impact of her work could redefine how society approaches online safety for older adults.
🔍 Fact Checker Results
✅ FBI reported nearly 860,000 online scam complaints in 2024, consistent with article data.
✅ Losses over \$10,000 for seniors quadrupled from 2020 to 2024, verified by FTC.
❌ No contradictory information found; all claims align with public records and official sources.
📊 Prediction
If Shield Seniors scales successfully, we could see a significant reduction in successful cyber scams targeting seniors within five years. With AI-assisted analysis and community workshops, the platform may inspire other tech initiatives aimed at vulnerable demographics, making digital literacy and cybersecurity standard education for older adults nationwide.
Shield Seniors is poised to become a benchmark for intergenerational cybersecurity education, transforming how technology protects—not just connects—our society.
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References:
Reported By: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
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