Disclosed are methods, systems and computer program products for backing up user data from a social network account. An exemplary general method includes the steps of obtaining access to a user account on a social network, by a social network application; determining, by the social network application, one or more restrictions on external requests for data imposed by the social network; generating, by a backup agent in communication with the social network application, an algorithm for requesting data from the user account based upon the one or more restrictions on external requests for data; requesting user data from the user account, by the social network application, using the algorithm; receiving the user data from the user account, by the social network application; transmitting the received user data from the social network application to the backup agent; and archiving the received user data, by the backup agent.