I've used Ubuntu in the past so that's what I'm thinking of using, but if anyone has another suggestion I'm open to ideas. I'm looking for something user-friendly and lightweight when it comes to hardware requirements. The laptop will mostly be used for web browsing and streaming video, if I can get that to work.
In essence, yes. Ubuntu makes it pretty easy, actually, because each one has a dedicated installer and community.
Ubuntu (default choice) - Gnome Lubuntu - Lxqt Xubuntu - Xfce Kubuntu - KDE.
I'm sure you can check out their respective websites and just pick one based on which aesthetic appeals to you
https://ubuntu.com/desktop
https://lubuntu.me/
https://kubuntu.org/
https://xubuntu.org/
The underlying everything else will be the same. It's all "Ubuntu" at the end of the day.