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Social media companies must simplify the conditions of using their services because they are so impenetrable that "no reasonable person" can be expected to understand them.

That's the feeling of MPs who sit on Britain's parliamentary science and technology committee.

Complicated terms and conditions that allow firms like Facebook access to a wealth of personal information and even control a user's phone are drafted for use in American court rooms, according to the committee.

It wants to see new guidelines that commit websites and apps to explaining clearly how they use personal data, saying that laws will be needed if companies fail to comply.

The committee has pointed to terms for Facebook Messenger's mobile app, which is used by more than 200,000 million people a month.

It says that, under the current terms, Facebook can gain direct access to a user's mobile or tablet, including to take pictures or make videos, at any time without explicit confirmation from the owner.

MPs also pointed to criticism of the company earlier this year after it carried out a psychological experiment that recorded users' moods as news feeds on the social network were manipulated.

"Let's face it, most people click yes to terms and conditions contracts without reading them, because they are often laughably long and written in the kind of legalese you need a law degree from the USA to understand," Committee chair Andrew Miller said.

Miller says he's sure most social media developers will be happy to sign up to new guidelines on "clear communication and informed consent" that the committee is asking the British government to draw up.

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Social media companies must simplify terms