Learning how to play the guitar involves complex motor skills and is a physically demanding instrument in itself – Why not make it a little easier on yourself if you can? You can always play acoustic guitar after first learning on an electric guitar.
Electric guitars are easier to play because they usually use lighter strings and the action (the distance from the string to the fretboard) is usually lower on electric guitars. Also, many people have the goal of playing a style of music that sounds better when it's played on an electric guitar.
For kids, and those of us with smaller bodies, (women) an electric guitar may fit better because it's a smaller instrument. Yes, there are a few smaller-sized acoustic guitars out there (I use a small Yamaha guitar in my YouTube videos: www.youtube.com/leadcatpress ) but they don't sound as good as a full-size acoustic, and the action is still higher than on an electric guitar.
Many folks living in apartments or sharing houses with other people play electric guitar because they can practice more quietly on an electric guitar, either unplugged, or with headphones plugged into their amplifier. Of course, if you decide to go electric, you will need not only the guitar, but an amplifier and a cable to connect the guitar to the amplifier.
Regardless if you chose to play electric or acoustic guitar, I encourage you to purchase a guitar from a music store. That way, if it needs any adjustments, you can take it back to the store to have them repair the guitar. (A lot of times they do that for free.) Here in Seattle, I recommend that students visit American Music in Fremont or Emerald City Guitars in Pioneer Square.
One more thing - Make sure that you buy a guitar that you really dig, not just one that is on sale. You are going to spend a lot of time with your guitar, so you want to have a guitar that you find attractive and you can really love playing.
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