Meta-ExternalAgent
Run by Meta
How to detect Meta-ExternalAgent
Meta-ExternalAgent names itself in its user agent, but anyone can copy a user agent, so it is detected by confirming the user agent against other signals: source IP confirmed as the operator's own network; and how the session clicks, types, moves and navigates matches an automated agent.
- Detection method
- Self-declaredThe agent names itself in its user agent, and Verisoul confirms it with network, device or behavioral data. A user agent alone is never enough.
- Signals that identify it
- NetworkSource IP confirmed as the operator's own network
- DeviceNames itself as Meta-ExternalAgent in its user agent, which we check against the rest of the session
- BehavioralHow the session clicks, types, moves and navigates matches an automated agent
Every signal Verisoul checks for Meta-ExternalAgent
Meta-ExternalAgent names itself in its user agent. Anyone can copy that, so we only label a session Meta-ExternalAgent when the other signals check out too.
- Not used
Cryptographic
Not needed to identify it
- Used
Network
Source IP confirmed as the operator's own network
- Used
Device
Names itself as Meta-ExternalAgent in its user agent, which we check against the rest of the session
- Used
Behavioral
How the session clicks, types, moves and navigates matches an automated agent
How often you'll see it
Very common
About 7 to 13% of global crawler traffic in September 2026, per Cloudflare Radar
More from Meta
- facebookexternalhitBuilds the link preview when someone shares a URL on Facebook, Instagram or Messenger.Self-declaredHow common: Very common
- Meta-ExternalAdsChecks ad landing pages for Meta's ad products.Self-declaredHow common: Uncommon
- Meta-ExternalFetcherFetches a page when a person asks Meta AI about it.Self-declaredHow common: Uncommon
- Meta-WebIndexerMeta's crawler that indexes pages for Meta AI search answers.Self-declaredHow common: Uncommon
- Meta MuseMeta's autonomous personal AI agent, which carries out multi-step tasks on the web for a person.InferredHow common: Growing
- Meta-ExternalTestAn AI agent from Meta that works in a browser and signs its requests.SignedHow common: Very uncommon
Questions about Meta-ExternalAgent
How do you detect Meta-ExternalAgent?
Meta-ExternalAgent names itself in its user agent, but anyone can copy a user agent, so it is detected by confirming the user agent against other signals: source IP confirmed as the operator's own network; and how the session clicks, types, moves and navigates matches an automated agent.
What is Meta-ExternalAgent?
Meta-ExternalAgent is Meta's crawler that collects public pages for AI training.
Does Meta-ExternalAgent identify itself?
Partly. Meta-ExternalAgent names itself in its user agent, but user agents are easy to copy, so the name alone is not proof.
Can a bot pretend to be Meta-ExternalAgent?
A bot can copy Meta-ExternalAgent's user agent or markers, but the network, device and behavior signals will not match, so it is not labeled Meta-ExternalAgent.
How common is Meta-ExternalAgent?
Very common. About 7 to 13% of global crawler traffic in September 2026, per Cloudflare Radar.
What does the Verisoul API return for Meta-ExternalAgent?
Every session Verisoul identifies as Meta-ExternalAgent carries an agent block with id "meta_externalagent", name, provider, type "ai_crawler", detection_method "self_declared" and the detection_signals used (network, behavioral). Build rules on the id, type and detection method.