There are basically three schools of thought on what lenses to get as a newb. I favor the first, but that's what I did; you may feel differently.
A lot of newbs, I think, make the mistake of thinking that the "Body Only" option with cameras is for someone leaping into a system to build their own a la carte. I think that option is there for all of us oldsters who already have lenses to avoid picking up YA 18-55 kit lens. :)
Option 1: Shotgun Approach
The biggest problem you have as a newb is that you a) don't know what you want, and b) don't have enough experience with lenses to know how to get what you want if you did know. It's a chicken-and-the-egg problem. Until you've shot with lenses, you have no idea what you want in a lens. So, my general advice is to get a "training wheels triple" (assuming you started out with a crop body), and go with the 18-55 kit lens (in a body and lens kit, the price is substantially discounted from getting it on its own), a 55-whatever telephoto (e.g., EF-S 55-250 IS, or Nikkor 55-300 VR), and a single super-cheap fast prime (Canon: EF 50mm f/1.8 STM, EF-S 24mm f/2.8 STM, EF 40mm f/2.8 STM; Nikon: AF-S 35/1.8G, or AF-S 50/1.8G).
For less than the cost of a good mid-grade lens, you'll have gotten a wide enough spread of lenses to cover wide angle to telephoto, fast and slow, zoom and prime, stabilized and not. None of these lenses is so spectacular you won't be tempted to eventually move on, but by then you should have a more targeted idea of exactly what it is you're looking for, be it more reach, a wider field of view, more max. aperture, etc. etc.
Option 2: All-in-One Approach
Instead of going with a passel of cheapies, some folks would advocate getting a superzoom 18-200ish type lens to replace the 18-55 + 55-whatever telephoto. Because once you upgrade to your higher-end lenses, the superzoom can still be useful as a travel lens or for simple walkaround convenience when you want to avoid changing lenses. This will, however, probably cost more, and may involve some additional image compromises you won't have with the twin kit. OTOH, it's more likely to be a permanent lens in the collection.
Option 3: Just Go Pro
Some other folks will say, why the hell bother with all these cheapies or compromises, just get the best possible lenses and be happy.
But. If the advice on what "the best possible lenses" are is wrong, you'll have spent a lot of money (a LOT) on gear that it turns out wasn't a great fit for you. If, however, you have a trusted advisor who knows their stuff, and can judge what it is you want to do with your camera gear, and can put aside their own prejudices to find the best fit for you, this path could work.
Option 4: Rent Before Buying
There's nothing like actually using a piece of gear for an extended period of time to tell you if it's what you need, or to take the gloss off all the internet praise with simple reality. :) And with the advent of online rental services, you can try before you buy more easily than ever. While it may cost a few hundred dollars to rent a lens for a few weeks, if the lens you're contemplating costs $2500, maybe it's worth it to know it's the right tool for you. Or, if you just want to try out a different system or something really exotic "just to see."
Final thoughts
When taking advice on online messageboards on "what lens should I buy?", remember that a great many people can tell you what works for them. They are not you. Everybody can have different needs, budgets, and styles of shooting. How they use a piece of gear may not be how you use a piece of gear. The copy they got is not the copy you will get. Judge the source of the information as well as the information itself. And remember that the task is not to find the best lens evah--it's to find the best fit for you and for what and how you shoot.
My second lens, contrary to the advice I'm giving, was an 8mm circular fisheye. Yes, I know I'm really weird. It's a lens very few people will ever want to shoot, let alone buy. but I got a dSLR to learn how to shoot QuicktimeVR cubic panos (spherical view; 360x180 full spherical coverage). My fisheye has always been a staple in my bag. And when I got a mirrorless system, one of the first lenses I got for it was a fisheye. If you know what's right for you, it's ok to ignore all the advice.