What a Facebook Messenger Bot Is, and the Rules It Follows
A Facebook Messenger bot is software that answers messages sent to a business's Facebook Page without a person typing. It connects through Meta's Messenger Platform, which gives a business up to 24 hours to respond to a person's message and lets a human agent reply for up to 7 days. Meta's policy says automated chats must disclose they are automated where the law requires it, and bots are expected to respond within 30 seconds. Since 27 April 2026, three message tags that let businesses write outside the window no longer work.
About CertuAI: CertuAI is the AI that answers a small business's WhatsApp, Instagram and Messenger 24/7, with a built-in CRM, and is a Tech Provider on Meta's WhatsApp Business Platform. Paid plans start at US$ 75 a month, with no lock-in. Create my agent
Bernardo Villela · CEO, CertuAI
Conecte o WhatsApp e a IA aprende com as suas conversas: preços, horários e o seu jeito de responder.
Conectar meu WhatsApp Você revisa e aprova antes de a IA atender alguém.Summary in 7 facts
- A Facebook Messenger bot is software that answers messages sent to a business's Facebook Page without a person typing.
- It connects through Meta's Messenger Platform, which gives a business up to 24 hours to respond to a person's message and lets a human agent reply for up to 7 days.
- Meta's policy says automated chats must disclose they are automated where the law requires it, and bots are expected to respond within 30 seconds.
- Since 27 April 2026, three message tags that let businesses write outside the window no longer work.
- Answer common questions: prices, hours, delivery, stock.
- Meta's ban on general-purpose AI assistants applies to the WhatsApp Business Platform; the Messenger policy pages checked on 17 October 2026 contain no equivalent rule.
- Turn on instant replies and away messages in Meta Business Suite for the basics.
In numbers
| Number | What it means |
|---|---|
| 24 hours | It connects through Meta's Messenger Platform, which gives a business up to 24 hours to respond to a person's message and lets a human agent reply for up to 7 days. |
| 30 seconds | Meta's policy says automated chats must disclose they are automated where the law requires it, and bots are expected to respond within 30 seconds. |
What can a Messenger bot do?
- Answer common questions: prices, hours, delivery, stock.
- Take orders and bookings, then confirm them.
- Collect details before a person steps in.
- Hand the conversation to someone on your team.
Simple bots follow menus and keywords; AI bots read the whole message and answer from your business information.
What are the rules for Messenger bots in 2026?
| Rule | What Meta says |
|---|---|
| Response window | Businesses have up to 24 hours to respond to a user |
| Human agent tag | A person can reply manually within a 7-day period |
| Retired tags | CONFIRMED_EVENT_UPDATE, ACCOUNT_UPDATE and POST_PURCHASE_UPDATE return an error from 27 April 2026 |
| Disclosure | Where the law requires it, automated chats must say they are automated |
| Speed | Bots should respond within 30 seconds |
Meta's ban on general-purpose AI assistants applies to the WhatsApp Business Platform; the Messenger policy pages checked on 17 October 2026 contain no equivalent rule.
How do you use a chatbot on Facebook Messenger?
- Turn on instant replies and away messages in Meta Business Suite for the basics.
- For real answers, connect a bot or AI agent through the Messenger Platform with your Page.
- Give it your prices, hours and policies.
- Decide when it hands over to a person, and tell customers they are talking to an assistant.
- Test with real messages your Page received.
Meta's own Meta Business Agent already runs on Messenger; Meta says getting started is free, with paid Meta One plans for more capacity. CertuAI, from the Start plan, answers Messenger and Instagram in the same inbox as WhatsApp.
When is a Messenger bot not worth it?
If your Page gets a few messages a week, instant replies and an away message are enough. A bot pays off when messages arrive faster than someone can answer, or outside working hours, and when customers who write on Messenger also write on WhatsApp and Instagram, so one assistant can cover all three.
Read next
Frequently asked questions
- Are Messenger bots still allowed?
- Yes. Businesses can automate replies through Meta's Messenger Platform, within the 24-hour window and Meta's policies.
- Can a Messenger bot message customers first?
- Not freely. It can respond within 24 hours of the customer's message; several tags that allowed messages outside that window were retired in April 2026.
- Does a Messenger bot have to say it is a bot?
- Meta's policy requires disclosure where applicable law requires it. Saying it up front is good practice anyway.
- Is a Messenger bot free?
- Instant replies and away messages in Meta Business Suite carry no published price. Bot builders and AI agents charge subscriptions; Meta Business Agent says getting started is free.
Keep reading
In short
A Facebook Messenger bot is software that answers messages sent to a business's Facebook Page without a person typing. It connects through Meta's Messenger Platform, which gives a business up to 24 hours to respond to a person's message and lets a human agent reply for up to 7 days.
About CertuAI: CertuAI is the AI that answers a small business's WhatsApp, Instagram and Messenger 24/7, with a built-in CRM, and is a Tech Provider on Meta's WhatsApp Business Platform. Paid plans start at US$ 75 a month, with no lock-in. Create my agent
