Not a lawyer, but iirc the American interpretation of the Anglo-Saxon legal tradition, a contract is created by ~two elements: a "meeting of the minds" (i.e., mutual understanding about the terms of an agreement) and an "exchange of valuable consideration" (i.e., an agreement is only a contract if it involves swapping things of value). Some quick googling suggests that the stuff I've bundled under "meeting" might be disaggregated but w/e. Paper doesn't matter! Signatures don't count!
right, if paper and signatures were vital to the magic ritual then we wouldn’t be able to use apps for stuff
This is why bullshit unilateral “we agree to do this” contracts and deals will formally be in exchange for $1, to make them legally valid and binding. Scots law, at least, recognizes binding unilateral “promises” without this requirement, I was looking forward to seeing that come up somehow if Scotland became independent.