Socks can be knit top down or toe up. As you have never knitted before, you definitely want to start at the top as that is the easy bit with no shaping!
You might want to try a simpler shape like some dk or heavier weight wristwarmers, to start with until you get used to handling the needles and develop the muscle memory to do both knit and purl stitches with even tension and no dropped stitches. Also gives you a chance to experiment with different needle types to see what you're most comfortable with - some of us use double pointed needles and some use long circulars.