What is exposure bias in recommendation systems?

Updated May 16, 2026

Short answer

Exposure bias occurs when only previously shown items are used as training data.

Deep explanation

In recommendation systems, users can only interact with items they are exposed to. This creates a biased dataset where missing interactions do not mean dislike. Models trained on this data learn biased patterns. Counterfactual learning and inverse propensity scoring are commonly used to correct exposure bias.

Real-world example

E-commerce only learning from items shown on homepage.

Common mistakes

  • Treating unclicked items as negative feedback.

Follow-up questions

  • What is inverse propensity scoring?
  • Why is exposure important?

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