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Call it the MySpace effect: Canada, not willing to let its youth be susceptible to the online prowlings of perverts, is taking action. No, they're not going to block the social networking sites; they're moving to raise its age of consent up two years, to 16. Conservative Torys who introduced the new bill hope raising the minimum age someone can willingly enter into a sexual relationship will render harsher punishments for older predators. But fear not, pretty young things: Your ability to date a (mildly) older fella will still be protected.

The legislation includes a so-called near-age exemption of five years so that, for example, a 14-year-old could still have a sexual partner aged up to 19, and a 15-year-old could have a partner aged up to 20.

Back here in the U.S., where age of consent laws vary from state to state, 16-year-olds are already the youngest a 40-year-old MySpace prowler can go for an online fling. In Spain, however, it's 12.

Canada May Raise Age of Sexual Consent [AP]
Age of Consent worldwide map [Wikipedia]