CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (DEFICIT) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	Common Stock Class A common stock	Common Stock Class B common Stock	Common Stock Class C common stock	Additional paid-in capital	Accumulated deficit	Accumulated other comprehensive loss	Parent	Noncontrolling interest	Class A common stock	Class B common Stock	Class C common stock	Total
Balance at beginning at Dec. 31, 2020		$ 1		$ 36,373	$ (346,818)	$ (3,359)	$ (313,803)					$ (313,803)
Balance at beginning (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2020	1,540	10,439
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (DEFICIT)
Net (loss) income					(11,367)		(11,367)	$ (18)				(11,385)
Issuance of common stock			$ 1	34,999			35,000					35,000
Issuance of common stock (in shares)			3,839
HuffPost Acquisition				24,064			24,064	2,122				26,186
HuffPost Acquisition (in shares)			2,639
Stock-based compensation				138			138					138
Issuance of common stock upon exercise of stock options				142			142					142
Issuance of common stock upon exercise of stock options (in shares)	6	49
Other comprehensive income (loss)						(329)	(329)					(329)
Balance at end at Mar. 31, 2021		$ 1	$ 1	95,716	(358,185)	(3,688)	(266,155)	2,104				(264,051)
Balance at end (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2021	1,546	10,488	6,478
Balance at beginning at Dec. 31, 2020		$ 1		36,373	(346,818)	(3,359)	(313,803)					(313,803)
Balance at beginning (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2020	1,540	10,439
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (DEFICIT)
Other comprehensive income (loss)												262
Balance at end at Sep. 30, 2021		$ 1	$ 1	96,867	(362,553)	(3,098)	(268,782)	1,697				(267,085)
Balance at end (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2021	3,918	8,305	6,478
Balance at beginning at Mar. 31, 2021		$ 1	$ 1	95,716	(358,185)	(3,688)	(266,155)	2,104				(264,051)
Balance at beginning (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2021	1,546	10,488	6,478
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (DEFICIT)
Net (loss) income					(582)		(582)	(292)				(874)
Stock-based compensation				209			209					209
Issuance of common stock upon exercise of stock options				145			145					145
Issuance of common stock upon exercise of stock options (in shares)	9	55
Merger of BuzzFeed Japan and HuffPost Japan								(510)				(510)
Other comprehensive income (loss)						105	105					105
Balance at end at Jun. 30, 2021		$ 1	$ 1	96,070	(358,767)	(3,583)	(266,278)	1,302				(264,976)
Balance at end (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2021	1,555	10,543	6,478
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (DEFICIT)
Net (loss) income					(3,786)		(3,786)	137				(3,649)
Stock-based compensation				503			503					503
Issuance of common stock in connection with share-based plans				294			294					294
Issuance of common stock in connection with share-based plans (in shares)	13	112
Disposition of subsidiary								258				258
Other comprehensive income (loss)						485	485					485
Conversion of Class B common stocks to Class A common stock (in shares)	2,350	(2,350)
Balance at end at Sep. 30, 2021		$ 1	$ 1	96,867	(362,553)	(3,098)	(268,782)	1,697				(267,085)
Balance at end (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2021	3,918	8,305	6,478
Balance at beginning at Dec. 31, 2021	$ 11	$ 1	$ 1	695,869	(322,106)	(3,233)	370,543	2,044				372,587
Balance at beginning (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2021	116,175	12,397	6,478						116,175	12,397	6,478
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (DEFICIT)
Net (loss) income					(44,894)		(44,894)	164				(44,730)
Stock-based compensation				3,940			3,940					3,940
Issuance of common stock in connection with share-based plans	$ 1			358			359					359
Issuance of common stock in connection with share-based plans (in shares)	411
Other comprehensive income (loss)						(103)	(103)					(103)
Conversion of Class B common stocks to Class A common stock (in shares)	103	(103)
Balance at end at Mar. 31, 2022	$ 12	$ 1	$ 1	700,167	(367,000)	(3,336)	329,845	2,208				332,053
Balance at end (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2022	116,689	12,294	6,478
Balance at beginning at Dec. 31, 2021	$ 11	$ 1	$ 1	695,869	(322,106)	(3,233)	370,543	2,044				372,587
Balance at beginning (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2021	116,175	12,397	6,478						116,175	12,397	6,478
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (DEFICIT)
Other comprehensive income (loss)												423
Balance at end at Sep. 30, 2022	$ 13	$ 1	$ 1	713,418	(417,621)	(2,123)	293,689	4,026				297,715
Balance at end (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2022	125,982	6,678	6,478						125,982	6,678	6,478
Balance at beginning at Mar. 31, 2022	$ 12	$ 1	$ 1	700,167	(367,000)	(3,336)	329,845	2,208				332,053
Balance at beginning (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2022	116,689	12,294	6,478
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (DEFICIT)
Net (loss) income					(23,765)		(23,765)	184				(23,581)
Stock-based compensation				11,284			11,284					11,284
Issuance of common stock in connection with share-based plans				2			2					2
Issuance of common stock in connection with share-based plans (in shares)	3,561
Shares withheld for employee taxes				(1,635)			(1,635)					(1,635)
Shares withheld for employee taxes (in shares)	(434)
Other comprehensive income (loss)						958	958	(453)				505
Reclassification of noncontrolling interest (see Note 10)								2,458				2,458
Conversion of Class B common stocks to Class A common stock (in shares)	5,608	(5,608)
Balance at end at Jun. 30, 2022	$ 12	$ 1	$ 1	709,818	(390,765)	(2,378)	316,689	4,397				321,086
Balance at end (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2022	125,424	6,686	6,478
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (DEFICIT)
Net (loss) income					(26,856)		(26,856)	(137)				(26,993)
Stock-based compensation				3,635			3,635					3,635
Issuance of common stock in connection with share-based plans	$ 1						1					1
Issuance of common stock in connection with share-based plans (in shares)	569
Shares withheld for employee taxes				(35)			(35)					(35)
Shares withheld for employee taxes (in shares)	(19)
Other comprehensive income (loss)						255	255	(234)				21
Conversion of Class B common stocks to Class A common stock (in shares)	8	(8)
Balance at end at Sep. 30, 2022	$ 13	$ 1	$ 1	$ 713,418	$ (417,621)	$ (2,123)	$ 293,689	$ 4,026				$ 297,715
Balance at end (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2022	125,982	6,678	6,478						125,982	6,678	6,478