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	Total BuzzFeed, Inc. stockholders’ equity	Total BuzzFeed, Inc. stockholders’ equity ATM Offering Agreement	Total BuzzFeed, Inc. stockholders’ equity Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjustment	Common Stock Class A Common Stock	Common Stock Class A Common Stock ATM Offering Agreement	Common Stock Class B Common Stock	Common Stock Class C Common Stock	Additional paid-in capital	Additional paid-in capital ATM Offering Agreement	Accumulated deficit	Accumulated deficit Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjustment	Accumulated other comprehensive loss	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						$ 370,543			$ 11		$ 1	$ 1	$ 695,869		$ (322,106)		$ (3,233)	$ 2,044
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net (loss) income	(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						359			$ 1				358
Other comprehensive income (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						329,845			$ 12		$ 1	$ 1	700,167		(367,000)		(3,336)	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						370,543			$ 11		$ 1	$ 1	695,869		(322,106)		(3,233)	2,044
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Other comprehensive income (loss)	423
Balance at end (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2022										125,982		6,678	6,478
Balance at end at Sep. 30, 2022	297,715						293,689			$ 13		$ 1	$ 1	713,418		(417,621)		(2,123)	4,026
Balance at beginning (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2022										116,689		12,294	6,478
Balance at beginning at Mar. 31, 2022	332,053						329,845			$ 12		$ 1	$ 1	700,167		(367,000)		(3,336)	2,208
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net (loss) income	(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 income (loss)	505						958											958	(453)
Reclassification of noncontrolling interest (see Note 12)	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						316,689			$ 12		$ 1	$ 1	709,818		(390,765)		(2,378)	4,397
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net (loss) income	(26,993)						(26,856)									(26,856)			(137)
Stock-based compensation	3,635						3,635							3,635
Issuance of common stock in connection with share-based plans (in shares)										569
Issuance of common stock in connection with share-based plans	1						1			$ 1
Shares withheld for employee taxes (in shares)										(19)
Shares withheld for employee taxes	(35)						(35)							(35)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	21						255											255	(234)
Conversion of Class B common stock to Class A common stock (in shares)										8		(8)
Balance at end (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2022										125,982		6,678	6,478
Balance at end at Sep. 30, 2022	297,715						293,689			$ 13		$ 1	$ 1	713,418		(417,621)		(2,123)	4,026
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)				191,217		$ (126)	$ 13		$ 1	$ 1	716,233		(523,063)	$ (126)	(1,968)	3,337
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net (loss) income	(36,261)						(36,001)									(36,001)			(260)
Stock-based compensation	1,122						1,122							1,122
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 income (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)
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						155,347			$ 14		$ 1	$ 0	717,191		(559,190)		(2,669)	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)				191,217		$ (126)	$ 13		$ 1	$ 1	716,233		(523,063)	$ (126)	(1,968)	3,337
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(191)
Balance at end (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2023				138,201	6,676	0				138,201		6,676	0
Balance at end at Sep. 30, 2023	121,955						119,471			$ 14		$ 1	$ 0	721,980		(600,748)		(1,776)	2,484
Balance at beginning (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2023										133,258		6,676	0
Balance at beginning at Mar. 31, 2023	158,366						155,347			$ 14		$ 1	$ 0	717,191		(559,190)		(2,669)	3,019
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net (loss) income	(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
Shares withheld for employee taxes (in shares)										(51)
Shares withheld for employee taxes	(27)						(27)							(27)
Issuance of common stock in connection with at-the-market offering, net of issuance costs (in shares)											1,716
Issuance of common stock in connection with at-the-market offering, net of issuance costs		$ 810						$ 810							$ 810
Other comprehensive income (loss)	57						299											299	(242)
Reclassification of noncontrolling interest (see Note 12)	0
Balance at end (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2023										136,615		6,676	0
Balance at end at Jun. 30, 2023	133,627						130,850			$ 14		$ 1	$ 0	720,231		(587,026)		(2,370)	2,777
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net (loss) income	(13,932)						(13,722)									(13,722)			(210)
Stock-based compensation	1,799						1,799							1,799
Issuance of common stock in connection with share-based plans (in shares)										1,590
Shares withheld for employee taxes (in shares)										(359)
Shares withheld for employee taxes	(187)						(187)							(187)
Issuance of common stock in connection with at-the-market offering, net of issuance costs (in shares)											355
Issuance of common stock in connection with at-the-market offering, net of issuance costs		$ 137						$ 137							$ 137
Other comprehensive income (loss)	511						594											594	(83)
Balance at end (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2023				138,201	6,676	0				138,201		6,676	0
Balance at end at Sep. 30, 2023	$ 121,955						$ 119,471			$ 14		$ 1	$ 0	$ 721,980		$ (600,748)		$ (1,776)	$ 2,484