CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (DEFICIT) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	Total	Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjustment	Class A Common Stock	Class B Common Stock	Class C Common Stock	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 deficit Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjustment	Accumulated other comprehensive loss	Total BuzzFeed, Inc. stockholders’ equity	Total BuzzFeed, Inc. stockholders’ equity Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjustment	Noncontrolling interests
Balance at beginning (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2021						116,175	12,397	6,478
Balance at beginning at Dec. 31, 2021	$ 372,587					$ 11	$ 1	$ 1	$ 695,869	$ (322,106)		$ (3,233)	$ 370,543		$ 2,044
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net loss	(44,730)									(44,894)			(44,894)		164
Stock-based compensation	3,940								3,940				3,940
Issuance of common stock in connection with share-based plans (in shares)						411
Issuance of common stock in connection with share-based plans	359					$ 1			358				359
Other comprehensive loss	(103)											(103)	(103)
Conversion of Class B common stock to Class A common stock (in shares)						103	(103)
Balance at end (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2022						116,689	12,294	6,478
Balance at end at Mar. 31, 2022	332,053					$ 12	$ 1	$ 1	700,167	(367,000)		(3,336)	329,845		2,208
Balance at beginning (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2022			126,387	6,678	6,478	126,387	6,678	6,478
Balance at beginning at Dec. 31, 2022	194,554	$ (126)				$ 13	$ 1	$ 1	716,233	(523,063)	$ (126)	(1,968)	191,217	$ (126)	3,337
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net loss	(36,261)									(36,001)			(36,001)		(260)
Stock-based compensation	1,122								1,122				1,122		0
Issuance of common stock in connection with share-based plans (in shares)						512
Issuance of common stock in connection with share-based plans	29								29				29
Shares withheld for employee taxes (in shares)						(121)
Shares withheld for employee taxes	(193)								(193)				(193)
Other comprehensive loss	(759)											(701)	(701)		(58)
Conversion of Class B common stock to Class A common stock (in shares)						2	(2)
Conversion of Class C common stock to Class A common stock (in shares)						6,478		(6,478)
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Conversion of Convertible Securities						$ 1		$ (1)
Balance at end (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2023			133,258	6,676	0	133,258	6,676	0
Balance at end at Mar. 31, 2023	$ 158,366					$ 14	$ 1	$ 0	$ 717,191	$ (559,190)		$ (2,669)	$ 155,347		$ 3,019