Document and Entity Information [Abstract] Statement [Table] Class of Stock [Axis] Class of Stock [Domain] Class A common stock Class A common stock Class B common Stock Class B Common Stock Class C common stock Class C common stock Represent redeemable warrants each whole warrant exercisable for one share of class A common stock member. Redeemable warrants, each whole warrant exercisable for one share of Class A Common Stock at an exercise price of $11.50 per share Statement [Line Items] Statement Document Type Document Quarterly Report Document Period End Date Document Transition Report Entity File Number Entity Registrant Name Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code Entity Tax Identification Number Entity Address State Or Province Entity Address, Address Line One Entity Address, City or Town Entity Address, Postal Zip Code City Area Code Local Phone Number Title of 12(b) Security Trading Symbol Security Exchange Name Entity Current Reporting Status Entity Interactive Data Current Entity Filer Category Entity Small Business Entity Emerging Growth Company Entity Ex Transition Period Entity Shell Company Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding Entity Central Index Key Current Fiscal Year End Date Document Fiscal Period Focus Document Fiscal Year Focus Amendment Flag CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS Assets [Abstract] Assets Assets, Current [Abstract] Current assets Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value Cash and cash equivalents Accounts Receivable, after Allowance for Credit Loss, Current Accounts receivable (net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $1,748 as at September 30, 2022 and $1,094 as at December 31, 2021) Prepaid Expense and Other Assets, Current Prepaid and other current assets Assets, Current Total current assets Property, Plant and Equipment, Net Property and equipment, net Net Carrying Value Operating Lease, Right-of-Use Asset Right-of-use assets Right of use assets Amount of internal use software net. Internal Use Software, Net Capitalized software costs, net Intangible Assets, Net (Excluding Goodwill) Intangible assets, net Net Carrying Value Goodwill Goodwill Identifiable intangible assets acquired of goodwill Prepaid Expense and Other Assets, Noncurrent Prepaid and other assets Assets Total assets Liabilities and Equity [Abstract] Liabilities and Equity Liabilities, Current [Abstract] Current liabilities Accounts Payable, Current Accounts payable Accrued Liabilities, Current Accrued expenses Deferred Rent Credit, Current Deferred rent Contract with Customer, Liability, Current Deferred revenue Employee-related Liabilities, Current Accrued compensation Operating Lease, Liability, Current Current lease liabilities Other Liabilities, Current Other current liabilities Liabilities, Current Total current liabilities Deferred Rent Credit, Noncurrent Deferred rent Operating Lease, Liability, Noncurrent Noncurrent lease liabilities Long-term Debt, Excluding Current Maturities Debt Outstanding borrowings Derivative Liability, Noncurrent Derivative liability Warrants and Rights Outstanding Warrant liabilities Other Liabilities, Noncurrent Other liabilities Liabilities Total liabilities Commitments and Contingencies. Commitments and contingencies Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest, Equity, Preferred, Carrying Amount Redeemable noncontrolling interest Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent [Abstract] Stockholders' equity Common Stock, Value, Issued Common stock Additional Paid in Capital Additional paid-in capital Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit) Accumulated deficit Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax Accumulated other comprehensive loss Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent Total BuzzFeed, Inc. stockholders' equity Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Noncontrolling interests Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Balance at end Balance at beginning Total stockholders' equity Liabilities and Equity Total liabilities and equity Allowance for Doubtful Accounts, Premiums and Other Receivables Accounts receivable allowance Common Stock, Par or Stated Value Per Share Common stock, par value Common Stock, Shares Authorized Common stock ,shares authorized Number of shares authorized Common Stock, Shares, Issued Common stock, shares issued Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding Balance at end (in shares) Balance at beginning (in shares) Common stock shares outstanding CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax Revenue Costs and Expenses. Costs and Expenses Cost of Goods and Service, Excluding Depreciation, Depletion, and Amortization Cost of revenue, excluding depreciation and amortization Selling and Marketing Expense Sales and marketing General and Administrative Expense General and administrative Research and Development Expense Research and development Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Nonproduction Depreciation and amortization Asset Impairment Charges Impairment expense Non-cash impairment charge Costs and Expenses Total costs and expenses Operating Income (Loss) Loss from operations Other Nonoperating Income (Expense) Other expense, net Total Interest Income (Expense), Net Interest expense, net Fair Value Adjustment of Warrants Change in fair value of warrant liabilities Change in fair value of warrants Derivative, Gain (Loss) on Derivative, Net Change in fair value of derivative liability Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Noncontrolling Interest Loss before income taxes Income Tax Expense (Benefit) Income tax provision (benefit) Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Net loss Net loss Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest Net income attributable to the redeemable noncontrolling interest Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Nonredeemable Noncontrolling Interest Net (loss) income attributable to noncontrolling interests Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent Net loss attributable to holders of Class A, Class B, and Class C common stock Net loss attributable to BuzzFeed, Inc. N/a. Earning Per Share, Basic and Diluted [Abstract] Net loss per Class A, Class B and Class C common share: Earnings Per Share, Basic Basic Net loss per common share, basic Earnings Per Share, Diluted Diluted Net loss per common share, diluted Earnings Per Share, Diluted, Other Disclosure [Abstract] Weighted average common shares outstanding: Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Basic Basic Weighted average common shares outstanding, basic Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Diluted Diluted Weighted average common shares outstanding, diluted CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE LOSS Other comprehensive income Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Foreign Currency Transaction and Translation Adjustment, Net of Tax Foreign currency translation adjustment Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax Other comprehensive income Other comprehensive income (loss) Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Comprehensive loss Amount after tax of increase (decrease) in equity from transactions and other events and circumstances from net income (loss) and other comprehensive income (loss), attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interests. Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Attributable To Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest Comprehensive income attributable to the redeemable noncontrolling interest Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Comprehensive (loss) income attributable to noncontrolling interests Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Foreign Currency Transaction and Translation Adjustment, Net of Tax, Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Foreign currency translation adjustment attributable to noncontrolling interests Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent Comprehensive loss attributable to BuzzFeed, Inc. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (DEFICIT) Equity Components [Axis] Equity Component [Domain] Common Stock Additional paid-in capital Accumulated deficit Accumulated other comprehensive loss Parent Noncontrolling interest Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward] CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (DEFICIT) Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Nonredeemable Noncontrolling Interest Net (loss) income Stock Issued During Period, Value, New Issues Issuance of common stock Stock Issued During Period, Shares, New Issues Number of shares issued Issuance of common stock (in shares) Stock Issued During Period, Value, Acquisitions HuffPost Acquisition Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Acquisitions HuffPost Acquisition (in shares) APIC, Share-based Payment Arrangement, Increase for Cost Recognition Stock-based compensation Shares Issued, Value, Share-based Payment Arrangement, after Forfeiture Issuance of common stock in connection with share-based plans Shares Issued, Shares, Share-based Payment Arrangement, after Forfeiture Issuance of common stock in connection with share-based plans (in shares) Share-Based Payment Arrangement, Decrease for Tax Withholding Obligation Shares withheld for employee taxes Share-Based Payment Arrangement, Shares Withheld for Tax Withholding Obligation Shares withheld for employee taxes (in shares) Stock Issued During Period, Value, Stock Options Exercised Issuance of common stock upon exercise of stock options Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Exercises in Period Exercised Issuance of common stock upon exercise of stock options (in shares) Amount of decrease in noncontrolling interest from a business combination. Noncontrolling Interest, Decrease from Business Combination Merger of BuzzFeed Japan and HuffPost Japan Noncontrolling Interest, Increase from Sale of Parent Equity Interest Disposition of subsidiary Reclassifications of Temporary to Permanent Equity Reclassification to permanent equity Reclassification of noncontrolling interest (see Note 10) Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Conversion of Convertible Securities Conversion of Class B common stocks to Class A common stock (in shares) CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS Operating activities: Adjustments to Reconcile Net Income (Loss) to Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities [Abstract] Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities: Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization Depreciation and amortization Foreign Currency Transaction Gain (Loss), Unrealized Unrealized loss on foreign currency Share-based Payment Arrangement, Noncash Expense Stock based compensation Amortization of Debt Issuance Costs Amortization of debt discount and deferred issuance costs Deferred Income Tax Expense (Benefit) Deferred income tax Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Stock in Subsidiary Loss on disposition of subsidiary Loss on disposition of subsidiary Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Assets (Gain) loss on disposition of assets Gain (loss) on disposition of assets Accounts Receivable, Credit Loss Expense (Reversal) Provision for doubtful accounts Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investments Unrealized gain on investment Unrealized gain on investments Amount of noncash lease expense Non-cash lease expense Increase (Decrease) in Operating Capital [Abstract] Changes in operating assets and liabilities: Increase (Decrease) in Accounts Receivable Accounts receivable Increase (Decrease) in Prepaid Expense and Other Assets Prepaid expenses and other current assets and prepaid expenses and other assets Increase (Decrease) in Accounts Payable, Trade Accounts payable The increase (decrease) during the reporting period in deferred rent. Increase Decrease in Deferred Rent Deferred rent Increase (Decrease) in Employee Related Liabilities Accrued compensation Increase (Decrease) in Accrued Liabilities and Other Operating Liabilities Accrued expenses, other current liabilities and other liabilities Increase (Decrease) in Lease Liabilities Net Lease liabilities Increase (Decrease) in Contract with Customer, Liability Deferred revenue Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities Cash (used in) provided by operating activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities [Abstract] Investing activities: Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment Capital expenditures Payments to Develop Software Capitalization of internal-use software Proceeds from Sale of Productive Assets Proceeds from sale of asset Cash Acquired from Acquisition Cash from acquired business, net Payments to Acquire Additional Interest in Subsidiaries Cash of disposed subsidiary, less proceeds on disposition Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities Cash used in investing activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities [Abstract] Financing activities: Proceeds from Issuance of Common Stock Proceeds from issuance of common stock Cash investment Proceeds from Stock Options Exercised Proceeds from exercise of stock options Represents payments for shares withheld for employee taxes. Payments For Shares Withheld For Employee Taxes Payment for shares withheld for employee taxes Proceeds from (Repayments of) Lines of Credit Borrowings (payments) on revolving credit facilities The cash outflow from deferred reverse recapitalization costs. Payments To Deferred Reverse Recapitalization Costs Deferred reverse recapitalization costs Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities Cash provided by financing activities Effect of Exchange Rate on Cash, Cash Equivalents, Restricted Cash and Restricted Cash Equivalents Effect of currency translation on cash and cash equivalents Cash, Cash Equivalents, Restricted Cash and Restricted Cash Equivalents, Period Increase (Decrease), Including Exchange Rate Effect Net (decrease) increase in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash Cash, Cash Equivalents, Restricted Cash and Restricted Cash Equivalents Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period Description of the Business Business Description and Basis of Presentation [Text Block] Description of the Business Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block] Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Acquisitions and Dispositions Business Combination Disclosure [Text Block] Acquisitions and Dispositions Revenue Recognition Revenue from Contract with Customer [Text Block] Revenue Recognition Fair Value Measurements