I think it is a great thing for a young person to take up a musical instrument and the main lesson to learn is the instrument is a tool with which you make music.
I would say in my opinion it would be best to learn on an acoustic guitar, you hear an immediate response to the technique that you apply and the sound that you create is a true result of your imput.
In any Art form Music/Dance/Painting/Theatre and so on, you need to aquire the basic knowledge, this is then a platform from which you can experiment, pursue and perfect your chosen style.

Learn your scales! this is the fabric with which you weave your dreams.