CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenue	$ 436,674	$ 397,564	$ 321,324
Costs and Expenses
Cost of revenue, excluding depreciation and amortization	261,815	207,397	140,290
Sales and marketing	71,262	54,981	50,680
General and administrative	117,734	112,552	83,061
Research and development	30,597	24,928	17,669
Depreciation and amortization	35,073	22,860	17,486
Impairment expense	104,500	0	0
Total costs and expenses	620,981	422,718	309,186
(Loss) income from operations	(184,307)	(25,154)	12,138
Other (expense) income, net	(3,076)	(3,974)	882
Interest expense, net	(21,155)	(2,885)	(923)
Change in fair value of warrant liabilities	4,543	4,740	0
Change in fair value of derivative liability	4,695	26,745	0
(Loss) income before income taxes	(199,300)	(528)	12,097
Income tax provision (benefit)	2,026	(26,404)	941
Net (loss) income	(201,326)	25,876	11,156
Net income attributable to the redeemable noncontrolling interest	164	936	820
Net (loss) income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(533)	228	0
Net (loss) income attributable to BuzzFeed, Inc.	(200,957)	24,712	10,336
Net income (loss) attributable to holders of Class A, Class B and Class C common stock, basic	(200,957)	0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to holders of Class A, Class B and Class C common stock, diluted	$ (200,957)	$ (716)	$ 0
Net income (loss) per Class A, Class B and Class C common share, basic (in dollars per share)	$ (1.45)	$ 0.00	$ 0
Net income (loss) per Class A, Class B and Class C common share, diluted (in dollars per share)	$ (1.45)	$ (0.03)	$ 0
Basic weighted average common shares outstanding (in shares)	138,148	27,048	11,942
Diluted weighted average common shares outstanding (in shares)	138,148	28,001	11,942