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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Narrative (Details) - USD ($) shares in Thousands |  | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended |  |  |  |
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Dec. 30, 2020 | Sep. 30, 2023 | Dec. 31, 2023 | Dec. 31, 2022 | Dec. 31, 2021 | Jun. 30, 2023 | Mar. 31, 2023 | Mar. 31, 2021 | Aug. 31, 2015
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Collateral amount |  |  | $ 15,500,000 |  |  |  |  | $ 15,500,000 |
Impairment charges related to film costs |  |  | 0 | $ 0 | $ 0 |  |  |  |
Investment owned, balance (in shares) |  |  |  |  |  | 6 |  |  |
Equity investment without a readily determinable fair value |  |  | 800,000 | 3,600,000 |  | $ 0 | $ 3,600,000 |  |
Equity securities without readily determinable fair value, acquired during period |  | $ 800,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Impairment of long-lived assets |  |  | 0 |  | 0 |  |  |  |
Income tax benefit for stock- based compensation arrangements |  |  | $ 0 | $ 0 | $ 0 |  |  |  |
Preferred Stock |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Investment owned, balance (in shares) |  | 500 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Minimum |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Useful life of enhancements |  |  | 1 year |  |  |  |  |  |
Maximum |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Useful life of enhancements |  |  | 3 years |  |  |  |  |  |
Accounts Receivable | Customer Concentration Risk | Customer 1 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Concentration risk, percentage |  |  | 12.00% | 16.00% |  |  |  |  |
Accounts Receivable | Customer Concentration Risk | Customer 2 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Concentration risk, percentage |  |  | 12.00% | 13.00% |  |  |  |  |
Accounts Receivable | Customer Concentration Risk | Customer 3 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Concentration risk, percentage |  |  | 12.00% | 10.00% |  |  |  |  |
Revenue from Contract with Customer Benchmark | Customer Concentration Risk | Customer 1 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Concentration risk, percentage |  |  | 17.00% | 14.00% | 13.00% |  |  |  |
Revenue from Contract with Customer Benchmark | Customer Concentration Risk | Customer 2 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Concentration risk, percentage |  |  | 11.00% | 11.00% | 12.00% |  |  |  |
Revolving Credit Facility |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt instrument term | 3 years |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Maximum borrowing capacity | $ 50,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
BuzzFeed Japan |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Ownership interest, parent (in percent) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 51.00%
Ownership interest, noncontrolling owners (in percent) |  |  | 49.00% |  |  |  |  |  |
BuzzFeed Japan | Z Holdings Corporation |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Ownership interest, noncontrolling owners (in percent) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 21.50%
BuzzFeed Japan | Asahi Shimbun Company |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Ownership interest, noncontrolling owners (in percent) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 24.50%
BuzzFeed Japan | ValueCommerce Co. Ltd. |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Ownership interest, noncontrolling owners (in percent) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 3.00%

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