CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (DEFICIT) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	Total	ATM Offering Agreement	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) income	(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, 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]
Other comprehensive (loss) income	402
Balance at end (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2022							125,424	6,686	6,478
Balance at end at Jun. 30, 2022	321,086						$ 12	$ 1	$ 1	709,818	(390,765)		(2,378)	316,689		4,397
Balance at beginning (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2022							116,689	12,294	6,478
Balance at beginning at Mar. 31, 2022	332,053						$ 12	$ 1	$ 1	700,167	(367,000)		(3,336)	329,845		2,208
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net loss	(23,581)										(23,765)			(23,765)		184
Stock-based compensation	11,284									11,284				11,284
Issuance of common stock in connection with share-based plans (in shares)							3,561
Issuance of common stock in connection with share-based plans	2									2				2
Shares withheld for employee taxes (in shares)							(434)
Shares withheld for employee taxes	(1,635)									(1,635)				(1,635)
Other comprehensive (loss) income	505												958	958		(453)
Reclassification of noncontrolling interest (see Note 10)	2,458															2,458
Conversion of Class B common stock to Class A common stock (in shares)							5,608	(5,608)
Balance at end (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2022							125,424	6,686	6,478
Balance at end at Jun. 30, 2022	321,086						$ 12	$ 1	$ 1	709,818	(390,765)		(2,378)	316,689		4,397
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) income	(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)
Conversion of Class C common stock to Class A common stock							$ 1		$ (1)
Balance at end (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2023							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
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]
Other comprehensive (loss) income	(702)
Balance at end (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2023				136,615	6,676	0	136,615	6,676	0
Balance at end at Jun. 30, 2023	133,627						$ 14	$ 1	$ 0	720,231	(587,026)		(2,370)	130,850		2,777
Balance at beginning (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2023							133,258	6,676	0
Balance at beginning at Mar. 31, 2023	158,366						$ 14	$ 1	$ 0	717,191	(559,190)		(2,669)	155,347		3,019
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net loss	(27,836)										(27,836)			(27,836)
Stock-based compensation	2,257									2,257				2,257
Issuance of common stock in connection with share-based plans (in shares)							1,692
Issuance of common stock in connection with share-based plans	0									0				0
Shares withheld for employee taxes (in shares)							(51)
Shares withheld for employee taxes	(27)									(27)				(27)
Number of shares issued (in shares)		1,716
Issuance of common stock		$ 810
Other comprehensive (loss) income	57												299	299		(242)
Reclassification of noncontrolling interest (see Note 10)	0
Balance at end (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2023				136,615	6,676	0	136,615	6,676	0
Balance at end at Jun. 30, 2023	$ 133,627						$ 14	$ 1	$ 0	$ 720,231	$ (587,026)		$ (2,370)	$ 130,850		$ 2,777