Summary of significant accounting policies	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2018
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Summary of significant accounting policies	Summary of significant accounting policies (a) Basis of preparation and liquidity The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared by Fluent, Inc., formerly known as Cogint, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company" or "Fluent"), in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States ("US GAAP") and applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") regarding interim financial reporting. Certain information and note disclosures normally included in annual financial statements prepared in accordance with US GAAP have been condensed or omitted pursuant to those rules and regulations. The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements reflect all normal recurring adjustments necessary to present fairly the financial position, results of operations, and cash flows for the interim periods, but are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations to be anticipated for any future interim periods or for the full year ending December 31, 2018. The information included in this quarterly report on Form 10-Q should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 ("2017 Form 10-K") filed with the SEC on March 14, 2018. The condensed consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2017 included herein was derived from the audited financial statements as of that date included in the 2017 Form 10-K, but does not include all disclosures required by US GAAP. Principles of consolidation The condensed consolidated financial statements include the financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries. All significant transactions among the Company and its subsidiaries have been eliminated upon consolidation. Spin-off of red violet On March 26, 2018, Fluent completed the previously announced spin-off (the "Spin-off") of its risk management business from its digital marketing business by way of a distribution of all the shares of common stock of Fluent's wholly-owned subsidiary, Red Violet, Inc. ("red violet"), to Fluent's stockholders of record as of March 19, 2018 (the "Record Date'') and certain warrant holders. The distribution occurred by way of a pro rata distribution to such common stock and warrant holders, each of whom received one share of red violet's common stock for every 7.5 shares of Fluent's common stock held on the Record Date or to which they were entitled under their warrants. Following the Spin-off of red violet, Fluent common stock continued trading on The NASDAQ Stock Market ("NASDAQ"), and red violet became an independent public company, also listed on NASDAQ. red violet owns all of the former Fluent subsidiaries that operated the Company's former risk management business. In accordance with Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") 205-20, "Discontinued Operations," the results of red violet are reflected in Fluent's condensed consolidated financial statements as discontinued operations and, therefore, are presented as assets and liabilities of discontinued operations on the condensed consolidated balance sheet, loss from discontinued operations on the condensed consolidated statements of operations and cash activity from discontinued operations on the condensed consolidated statements of cash flows. See Note 3, "Discontinued operations," for details. Reclassifications Certain amounts in the prior year's condensed consolidated financial statements and related footnotes thereto have been reclassified to conform with the current year presentation as a result of the Spin-off of red violet. See Note 3, "Discontinued operations," for details. The Company has reclassified certain trade-related accruals from accounts payable (previously trade accounts payable) into accrued expenses and other current liabilities. As a result, accounts payable decreased by $3,258 to $7,408, and accrued expenses and other current liabilities increased by $3,258 to $14,967 as of December 31, 2017 in the condensed consolidated financial statements. Additionally, within cash flows from operating activities on the condensed consolidated statements of cash flows, for the nine months ended September 30, 2017, the decrease in accounts payable increased by $5,043 to $7,464, and the increase in accrued expenses and other current liabilities increased by $5,043 to $8,900. In addition, the Company has reclassified the cost of revenue (exclusive of depreciation and amortization) amounts from the gross profit section, as presented in previous filings, to the costs and expenses section of the condensed consolidated statements of operations for each period presented and the gross profit subtotal has been removed. As a result, total costs and expenses have increased by $35,732, to $63,277, for the three months ended September 30, 2017 and by $104,310, to $176,938, for the nine months ended September 30, 2017. (b) Recently issued and adopted accounting standards In May 2014, Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued ASU No. 2014-9 ("ASU 2014-9"), "Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606)" and additional changes, modifications, clarifications or interpretations thereafter. The standard's core principle is that a company will recognize revenue when it transfers promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the company expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The guidance includes indicators to assist an entity in evaluating whether it controls the good or service before it is transferred to the customer. The new revenue recognition standard is effective for public entities for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods therein. The new standard also permits two methods of adoption: retrospectively to each prior reporting period presented (full retrospective method), or retrospectively with the cumulative effect of initially applying the guidance recognized at the date of initial application (the modified retrospective method). The Company adopted Topic 606 as of January 1, 2018 using the modified retrospective method, and the adoption did not have a material impact on the consolidated balance sheets, statements of operations, or cash flows. Refer to Note 1(c) below for further details. In February 2016, FASB issued ASU No. 2016-2 ("ASU 2016-2"), "Leases (Topic 842)" and additional changes, modifications, clarifications or interpretations thereafter, which generally require companies to recognize operating and financing lease liabilities and corresponding right-of-use assets on the balance sheet. This guidance will be effective in the first quarter of 2019 on a modified retrospective basis and early adoption is permitted. Upon adoption of this standard, the Company expects to recognize, on a discounted basis, its minimum commitments under noncancelable operating leases on its consolidated balance sheets, resulting in the recording of right-of-use assets and lease obligations. In August 2016, FASB issued ASU No. 2016-15 ("ASU 2016-15"), "Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments," which provides guidance for certain cash flow issues, including contingent consideration payments made after a business combination and debt prepayment or debt extinguishment costs, among other areas. The guidance is effective for public entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017 and interim periods therein, and early adoption is permitted. The Company adopted ASU 2016-15 during the first quarter of 2018, noting no material impact to its condensed consolidated financial statements. In March 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-5 ("ASU 2018-5"), "Amendments to SEC Paragraphs Pursuant to SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 118." ASU 2018-5 amended ASC Topic 740, Income Taxes ("ASC 740"), to reflect SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 118 ("SAB 118"), which provides guidance on accounting for the impact of the tax reform legislation commonly known as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (the "Tax Act"). The amendments in ASU 2018-5 are effective upon issuance. The Company adopted SAB 118 in the fourth quarter of 2017, and therefore the Company's subsequent adoption of ASU 2018-5 in the first quarter of 2018 had no impact on its accounting for income taxes in the first quarter of 2018. Additional information regarding the accounting for income taxes for the effects of the Tax Act is contained in Note 7, "Income Taxes." In June 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-7 ("ASU 2018-7"), Compensation-Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Nonemployee Share-Based Payment Accounting, expanding the scope of employee share-based payment guidance under ASC Topic 718, to include share-based payments to nonemployees for goods and services. The guidance is effective for public entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018 and interim periods therein, and early adoption is permitted. The Company adopted ASU 2018-7 during the second quarter of 2018 on a modified retrospective basis, noting no material impact to its condensed consolidated financial statements. (c) Revenue recognition On January 1, 2018, the Company adopted ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), using the modified retrospective method applied to all contracts that were not completed contracts at the date of initial application. There was no impact on the opening balance of accumulated deficit on the condensed consolidated balance sheet and statement of changes in shareholders' equity as of January 1, 2018 due to the adoption of Topic 606. Revenue is recognized when control of goods or services is transferred to customers, in amounts that reflect the consideration the Company expects to be entitled to in exchange for those goods or services. The Company's performance obligation is typically to (a) deliver data records, based on predefined qualifying characteristics specified by the customer or (b) generate conversions, based on predefined user actions (for example, a click, a registration, the installation of an app or the printing of a coupon) and subject to certain qualifying characteristics specified by the customer. The Company has applied the portfolio approach practical expedient in accounting for customer revenue as one collective group, rather than individual contracts. Based on historical knowledge of the contracts contained in this portfolio and the similar nature and characteristics of the customers, the Company has concluded the financial statement effects are not materially different than accounting for revenue on a contract-by-contract basis. Revenue is recognized upon satisfaction of the associated performance obligations. The Company's customers simultaneously receive and consume the benefits provided by the performance as the Company performs. Furthermore, the Company elected the "right to invoice" practical expedient available within ASC 606-10-55-18 as the measure of progress, since the Company has a right to payment from a customer in an amount that corresponds directly with the value of the performance completed to date. The Company's revenue arrangements do not contain significant financing components. If a customer pays consideration before the Company's performance obligations are satisfied, those amounts are classified as deferred revenue. As of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, the balance of deferred revenue was $714 and $265, respectively. The deferred revenue balance as of December 31, 2017 was fully recognized into revenue during the first quarter of 2018. If there is a delay between the period in which revenue is recognized and when customer invoices are issued, revenue is recognized and related amounts are recorded as unbilled revenue in accounts receivable. As of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, unbilled revenue included in accounts receivable totaled $20,242 and $16,238, respectively. In line with industry practice, the unbilled revenue balance is recorded based on the Company's internally tracked conversions, net of estimated variances between this amount and the amount tracked and subsequently confirmed by customers. The majority of invoices included within the unbilled revenue balance are issued within the month directly following the period of service. Sales commissions are recorded at the time revenue is recognized and recorded in sales and marketing expenses. In addition, the Company elected the practical expedient to not disclose the value of unsatisfied performance obligations for (i) contracts with an original expected length of one year or less and (ii) contracts for which revenue is recognized at the amount to which the Company has the right to invoice for services performed.

Summary of significant accounting policies

(a) Basis of preparation and liquidity

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared by Fluent, Inc., formerly known as Cogint, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company" or "Fluent"), in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States ("US GAAP") and applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") regarding interim financial reporting. Certain information and note disclosures normally included in annual financial statements prepared in accordance with US GAAP have been condensed or omitted pursuant to those rules and regulations.

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements reflect all normal recurring adjustments necessary to present fairly the financial position, results of operations, and cash flows for the interim periods, but are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations to be anticipated for any future interim periods or for the full year ending December 31, 2018.

The information included in this quarterly report on Form 10-Q should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 ("2017 Form 10-K") filed with the SEC on March 14, 2018.

The condensed consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2017 included herein was derived from the audited financial statements as of that date included in the 2017 Form 10-K, but does not include all disclosures required by US GAAP.

Principles of consolidation

The condensed consolidated financial statements include the financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries. All significant transactions among the Company and its subsidiaries have been eliminated upon consolidation.

Spin-off of red violet

On March 26, 2018, Fluent completed the previously announced spin-off (the "Spin-off") of its risk management business from its digital marketing business by way of a distribution of all the shares of common stock of Fluent's wholly-owned subsidiary, Red Violet, Inc. ("red violet"), to Fluent's stockholders of record as of March 19, 2018 (the "Record Date'') and certain warrant holders. The distribution occurred by way of a pro rata distribution to such common stock and warrant holders, each of whom received one share of red violet's common stock for every 7.5 shares of Fluent's common stock held on the Record Date or to which they were entitled under their warrants.

Following the Spin-off of red violet, Fluent common stock continued trading on The NASDAQ Stock Market ("NASDAQ"), and red violet became an independent public company, also listed on NASDAQ. red violet owns all of the former Fluent subsidiaries that operated the Company's former risk management business.

In accordance with Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") 205-20, "Discontinued Operations," the results of red violet are reflected in Fluent's condensed consolidated financial statements as discontinued operations and, therefore, are presented as assets and liabilities of discontinued operations on the condensed consolidated balance sheet, loss from discontinued operations on the condensed consolidated statements of operations and cash activity from discontinued operations on the condensed consolidated statements of cash flows. See Note 3, "Discontinued operations," for details.

Reclassifications

Certain amounts in the prior year's condensed consolidated financial statements and related footnotes thereto have been reclassified to conform with the current year presentation as a result of the Spin-off of red violet. See Note 3, "Discontinued operations," for details.

The Company has reclassified certain trade-related accruals from accounts payable (previously trade accounts payable) into accrued expenses and other current liabilities. As a result, accounts payable decreased by $3,258 to $7,408, and accrued expenses and other current liabilities increased by $3,258 to $14,967 as of December 31, 2017 in the condensed consolidated financial statements. Additionally, within cash flows from operating activities on the condensed consolidated statements of cash flows, for the nine months ended September 30, 2017, the decrease in accounts payable increased by $5,043 to $7,464, and the increase in accrued expenses and other current liabilities increased by $5,043 to $8,900.

In addition, the Company has reclassified the cost of revenue (exclusive of depreciation and amortization) amounts from the gross profit section, as presented in previous filings, to the costs and expenses section of the condensed consolidated statements of operations for each period presented and the gross profit subtotal has been removed. As a result, total costs and expenses have increased by $35,732, to $63,277, for the three months ended September 30, 2017 and by $104,310, to $176,938, for the nine months ended September 30, 2017.

(b) Recently issued and adopted accounting standards

In May 2014, Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued ASU No. 2014-9 ("ASU 2014-9"), "Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606)" and additional changes, modifications, clarifications or interpretations thereafter. The standard's core principle is that a company will recognize revenue when it transfers promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the company expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The guidance includes indicators to assist an entity in evaluating whether it controls the good or service before it is transferred to the customer. The new revenue recognition standard is effective for public entities for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods therein. The new standard also permits two methods of adoption: retrospectively to each prior reporting period presented (full retrospective method), or retrospectively with the cumulative effect of initially applying the guidance recognized at the date of initial application (the modified retrospective method). The Company adopted Topic 606 as of January 1, 2018 using the modified retrospective method, and the adoption did not have a material impact on the consolidated balance sheets, statements of operations, or cash flows. Refer to Note 1(c) below for further details.

In February 2016, FASB issued ASU No. 2016-2 ("ASU 2016-2"), "Leases (Topic 842)" and additional changes, modifications, clarifications or interpretations thereafter, which generally require companies to recognize operating and financing lease liabilities and corresponding right-of-use assets on the balance sheet. This guidance will be effective in the first quarter of 2019 on a modified retrospective basis and early adoption is permitted. Upon adoption of this standard, the Company expects to recognize, on a discounted basis, its minimum commitments under noncancelable operating leases on its consolidated balance sheets, resulting in the recording of right-of-use assets and lease obligations.

In August 2016, FASB issued ASU No. 2016-15 ("ASU 2016-15"), "Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments," which provides guidance for certain cash flow issues, including contingent consideration payments made after a business combination and debt prepayment or debt extinguishment costs, among other areas. The guidance is effective for public entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017 and interim periods therein, and early adoption is permitted. The Company adopted ASU 2016-15 during the first quarter of 2018, noting no material impact to its condensed consolidated financial statements.

In March 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-5 ("ASU 2018-5"), "Amendments to SEC Paragraphs Pursuant to SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 118." ASU 2018-5 amended ASC Topic 740, Income Taxes ("ASC 740"), to reflect SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 118 ("SAB 118"), which provides guidance on accounting for the impact of the tax reform legislation commonly known as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (the "Tax Act"). The amendments in ASU 2018-5 are effective upon issuance.

The Company adopted SAB 118 in the fourth quarter of 2017, and therefore the Company's subsequent adoption of ASU 2018-5 in the first quarter of 2018 had no impact on its accounting for income taxes in the first quarter of 2018. Additional information regarding the accounting for income taxes for the effects of the Tax Act is contained in Note 7, "Income Taxes."

In June 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-7 ("ASU 2018-7"), Compensation-Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Nonemployee Share-Based Payment Accounting, expanding the scope of employee share-based payment guidance under ASC Topic 718, to include share-based payments to nonemployees for goods and services. The guidance is effective for public entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018 and interim periods therein, and early adoption is permitted. The Company adopted ASU 2018-7 during the second quarter of 2018 on a modified retrospective basis, noting no material impact to its condensed consolidated financial statements.

On January 1, 2018, the Company adopted ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), using the modified retrospective method applied to all contracts that were not completed contracts at the date of initial application. There was no impact on the opening balance of accumulated deficit on the condensed consolidated balance sheet and statement of changes in shareholders' equity as of January 1, 2018 due to the adoption of Topic 606.

Revenue is recognized when control of goods or services is transferred to customers, in amounts that reflect the consideration the Company expects to be entitled to in exchange for those goods or services. The Company's performance obligation is typically to (a) deliver data records, based on predefined qualifying characteristics specified by the customer or (b) generate conversions, based on predefined user actions (for example, a click, a registration, the installation of an app or the printing of a coupon) and subject to certain qualifying characteristics specified by the customer.

The Company has applied the portfolio approach practical expedient in accounting for customer revenue as one collective group, rather than individual contracts. Based on historical knowledge of the contracts contained in this portfolio and the similar nature and characteristics of the customers, the Company has concluded the financial statement effects are not materially different than accounting for revenue on a contract-by-contract basis.

Revenue is recognized upon satisfaction of the associated performance obligations. The Company's customers simultaneously receive and consume the benefits provided by the performance as the Company performs. Furthermore, the Company elected the "right to invoice" practical expedient available within ASC 606-10-55-18 as the measure of progress, since the Company has a right to payment from a customer in an amount that corresponds directly with the value of the performance completed to date. The Company's revenue arrangements do not contain significant financing components.

If a customer pays consideration before the Company's performance obligations are satisfied, those amounts are classified as deferred revenue. As of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, the balance of deferred revenue was $714 and $265, respectively. The deferred revenue balance as of December 31, 2017 was fully recognized into revenue during the first quarter of 2018.

If there is a delay between the period in which revenue is recognized and when customer invoices are issued, revenue is recognized and related amounts are recorded as unbilled revenue in accounts receivable. As of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, unbilled revenue included in accounts receivable totaled $20,242 and $16,238, respectively. In line with industry practice, the unbilled revenue balance is recorded based on the Company's internally tracked conversions, net of estimated variances between this amount and the amount tracked and subsequently confirmed by customers. The majority of invoices included within the unbilled revenue balance are issued within the month directly following the period of service.

Sales commissions are recorded at the time revenue is recognized and recorded in sales and marketing expenses.

In addition, the Company elected the practical expedient to not disclose the value of unsatisfied performance obligations for (i) contracts with an original expected length of one year or less and (ii) contracts for which revenue is recognized at the amount to which the Company has the right to invoice for services performed.