# meta-externalagent

Operator: Meta
Purpose: AI training
Reviewed: 2026-09-14
HTTP identifier: meta-externalagent
robots.txt token: meta-externalagent

## What is meta-externalagent?

Collects content for uses including Meta AI training.

## How to identify it

Look for the meta-externalagent identifier in a request’s User-Agent. This is a name match, not identity verification. Version strings may change.

## How to check identity

A User-Agent match identifies a claimed client. Check the source IP and any operator-published verification method before granting access.

## Access and robots.txt

Use a meta-externalagent robots.txt group to control collection. Meta may cache the rules for up to 24 hours.

Optional full-site opt-out; merge with existing rules only if intended. Not a security control.

```text
User-agent: meta-externalagent
Disallow: /
```

## What it means in your analytics

Collection indicates access to content, without proving a specific downstream use.

## Useful measures

Collected paths; Crawl volume; Bytes served.

## What to check next

Set a content-use policy for this crawler independently of Meta link previews.

## Sources

- [developers.facebook.com](https://developers.facebook.com/docs/sharing/webmasters/web-crawlers/)

Operator facts are source-backed; interpretation and actions are Apostl guidance.

## Related profiles

- [facebookexternalhit](https://apostl.dev/bots/facebookexternalhit)
- [meta-webindexer](https://apostl.dev/bots/meta-webindexer)
- [meta-externalfetcher](https://apostl.dev/bots/meta-externalfetcher)

[Start measuring agent traffic](https://apostl.dev/start/agent-analytics)