###### Abstract  
Virtual reality (VR) is transforming society by enabling the development of diverse applications across a wide range of fields. Public perception of this technology has evolved over time, and it is now increasingly regarded as a resource with significant potential [1]. Meanwhile, the metaverse--an interconnected virtual environment that goes beyond conventional VR--has emerged as a concept poised to redefine the ways in which individuals interact, work, and participate in digital environments. Although still in its early stages of development, the metaverse is generating growing interest from both technological and societal perspectives, indicating a potentially profound impact on society as a whole. This Special Issue, entitled \"Virtual Reality and Metaverse: Impact on the Digital Transformation of Society--2 nd Edition\" and published in the _Journal of Future Internet_, covers recent trends and advancements in the field of VR and metaverse usage for the digital transformation of society. We received 18 submissions. Following the initial screening and peer review process, nine papers were ultimately accepted for publication, eight were rejected, and one underwent an incomplete review process due to the authors' decision to withdraw. The accepted articles can be classified into two categories: (i) three reviews and (ii) six scientific papers. [PERSON]'s review [2] explores the rise of the \"social\" metaverse, emphasizing Meta's leading role in its development and noting the limited research on public opinion regarding such platforms. While the existing literature largely focuses on the technical, business, and ethical aspects of the metaverse, little attention has been paid to societal demand for a social metaverse. To address this, the author analyzes how major ICT companies engage with the metaverse and introduces a preliminary Likert scale questionnaire to assess public attitudes. Despite acknowledging its early-stage nature and limitations, the study provides a foundation for examining societal acceptance of digital social environments and encourages further investigation. Another review, by [PERSON] et al. [3], surveys the development of real-time metaverse technologies, which evolve beyond static virtual environments by integrating real-world data dynamically. It explores key enablers like advanced sensors, AI, edge computing, and 5G, which enable low-latency synchronization between physical and digital spaces. The study [3] highlights potential applications in areas such as entertainment, education, and urban planning, while addressing critical challenges like latency, security, and interoperability. It calls for ongoing innovation and collaboration to build a secure, scalable, and inclusive metaverse. Future research should focus on standards, 6G, multisensory integration, and ethical considerations. On the other hand, the third review, authored by [PERSON] [4], offers an overview of the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) with extended reality (XR) technologies and the metaverse, based on an analysis of 880 articles from 2015 to 2024. This field is rapidly growing (with a 91.29% annual increase) and shows significant potential across sectors, especially education,healthcare, generative AI, virtual worlds, human-computer interactions, and industry. The results highlight the broad applicability of AI in XR, though the area is still developing. The study notes its own limitations, particularly the scope of literature reviewed, and calls for deeper, domain-specific analyses and the development of robust frameworks addressing technical, ethical, and evaluation challenges. The scientific articles presented in this Special Issue also address topics related to the metaverse. For example, the study [5] examines global online search behavior for \"metaverse\" and \"fashion\" using Google Trends throughout 2022. It finds increasing consumer interest in these terms, though user patterns differ across Google's platforms (Search, YouTube, Images, News, Shopping).