Oceania is not considered a continent because it does not meet the traditional geographical criteria for being one. Instead, Oceania is a region that includes Australasia, Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia. The term ‘continent’ typically refers to large, continuous landmasses separated by natural barriers like oceans. Oceania, however, is made up of thousands of islands scattered across the Pacific Ocean, which do not form a single, unified landmass.
Geographically, Australia is often considered a continent on its own, and the islands of Oceania are grouped with it for cultural and historical reasons rather than geographical ones. This grouping helps in understanding the shared cultural, historical, and political ties among the islands and Australia. Therefore, while Oceania is a significant region, it is not classified as a continent in the traditional sense.