Kids today come in a whole different packaging than how they did back in the day.

Gone are times when building creative Lego structures or acing the Science quiz at school made us feel like a genius. These are the times when kids as young as a few years old happily ditch the colourful toys to play around with computer codes instead.

© Twitter/CBSDenver

So, it shouldn’t come as much of a surprise that 15-year-old ‘inventor’ Gitanjali Rao has been named TIME magazine’s first-ever 'Kid of the Year'. 

Indian-American by nationality, Gitanjali bagged the spot after being chosen from more than 5,000 nominees. 

An inventor, author and a STEM promoter, she has also featured in Forbes’ ‘30 Under 30’ for her inventions. 

During an interview with actress Angelina Jolie, Gitanjali had shared how she used technology to look into important issues such as contaminated water, opioid addiction and even cyberbullying.

Introducing the first-ever Kid of the Year, Gitanjali Rao https://t.co/Hvgu3GLoNs pic.twitter.com/4zORbRiGMU

— TIME (@TIME) December 3, 2020

 Gitanjali’s AI-based creation 'Kindly' is reportedly capable of detecting cyberbullying at an early stage. 

She had also expressed that her ultimate mission is to “create a global community of young innovators to solve problems the world over.”

Gitanjali also collaborates with rural schools, women in STEM organisations and bigger organisations like Shanghai International Youth Science and Technology group and the Royal Academy of Engineering in London to run innovation workshops.

© Twitter/JudyJu

At just 15, Gitanjali has surely gone ham at the glass ceiling and proved to millions of young girls that no dream is too big to chase as long as you have your heart set on it! 

Here’s how people are reacting to Gitanjali’s big win.

Congratulations!!!Very well done!!! Best Wishes God blessing you all🇮🇳

— गणेश शंकर मिश्राबाबा कालेदेव प्रगति सेवा संस्थान (@9kyC3cLU3wHbN1o) December 3, 2020

Congratulations to #gitanjalirao for @TIME the first-ever kid of the year "Your intelligence and new inventions will always help all the people to live a better life in future, your work inspires millions, and best wishes for a successful future.

— GIRIDHAR TIWARI 🇮🇳 (@tiwari_giridhar) December 3, 2020

Another 15 year old genius it’s amazing witnessing the exceptional fortitude young people have shown in these trying times. God bless their perseverance and strength

— Mark A Wright (@MarkAWright8) December 3, 2020

I can say @gitanjaliarao is the nicest person in the world.

— Jordan Reeves (she/her) (@jordanjustright) December 3, 2020

Congratulations Gitanjali 🏾🏾🏾🏾 I'm especially impressed with your Cyberbullying App, Kindly and your climate change initiatives. You're an inspiration to young people the world over.

— Zodwa Pakade™ (@zeeshongwe) December 3, 2020

Congrats to her. I got to listen to her two years ago when she visited my city #Chennai in #India to give a #TEDX talk and she was amazing. My notes from the talk. Once again, Kudos to her. #gitanjalirao #Time #KidOfTheYear https://t.co/nRbtQHZ6jR

— Venkatarangan Thirumalai (@venkatarangan) December 4, 2020

Wow
Really appreciateble work
One thing I want say is that
What ever we learn we have to apply it in the real world to reduce the manpower and also for the social causes.

— Sudhagar_murugesan (@sudhagarmsd) December 4, 2020

Talk about chota packet, bada dhamaka.

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